Many parents today are experiencing unprecedented pressure–they fear losing their jobs, finding new clients, not laying off employees, etc.
Yes, company executives face more pressure today to produce sales and expand operations. It seems, however, many companies just don’t offer working parents enough flex time. Is it necessary to write your employee up if she is 15 minutes late? Maybe her twins were sick and had to be cared for. Do you have to keep your analyst working until 8pm on Halloween night when he could be trick or treating with his kids?
If you are a business executive, evaluate the working relationship you have with staff who are parents. If they haven’t had a vacation day in a year, why not offer them a day off to spend with their family?
Businesses would see increased productivity if they allowed working mothers and fathers more flexibility. There just doesn’t seem to be enough of it today. More full timers could work from home part of the week, which would ease their household responsibilities somewhat.
Over the past year, I have spoken to career moms across the country for my book. Many are frustrated and exhausted working a long day and them coming home to household tasks that need to be completed. Marriages are seeing the strain as a result of the lack of downtime, no vacation, etc.
Business executives should be more mindful of their employees’ needs–remember, they have a family to support. They should think about how staff schedules can be adjusted to accommodate parents’ home obligations.
I agree with this wholeheartedly! I am a working father. I care for my child each and every evening and all day Saturdays, part of Sunday as well. I put him to bed and get him up and dressed and off to daycare. My employer chastise’s me for being 2 minutes late to work saying it is not fair to the rest of the employees. Although the rest of the employees don’t carry company cell phone and are not accessible 24/7 as I am. You have to work 2yr before you’re eligible for 2 weeks of paid time off. You don’t get any additional sick leave. Needless to say I’m looking for another job but companies could retain valuable employees if they’d rank family as high as monetary profit.