Offer family friendly support and community
Becoming a new parent can be extremely lonely. Think about how you can create an environment where working parents feel confident that they are understood. Be inclusive of all family arrangements and be mindful not to leave anyone out.
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1. Listen
Getting to know our teams in a safe and supportive way can help all colleagues and leaders to identify what is and isn’t working well as a business. Consider an employee survey to capture feedback from across the organisation.
Be inclusive in getting as many people talking as you can. Dads have historically been overlooked in these discussions. It’s also really helpful to bring in views from employees who are yet to start families as well as those who have more first hand parenting experience.
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2. Model
Have the conversations about what is working and what isn’t working for parents on your team. Don’t be nervous to get people talking, even if you don’t have the answers. The enemy of creating support and community is brushing over hard conversations.
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3. Create opportunity for community
This might look different depending on the size and structure of your organisation. From informal mentorship to a dedicated Slack channel or a more structured ‘employee resource group’, giving parents who might be struggling access to a community can make a huge difference to their wellbeing.
Case Study: Co-op
Co-op have a network called Parents & Carers Together (PaCT). They run events throughout the year asking professional bodies to talk to colleagues in the network as well as asking colleagues to share their own stories and challenges. The Co-op PaCT team also run a ‘Buddy’ scheme which will offer support to parents and carers going through a particular experience.
Why this matters
By providing support and resources, alongside flexibility and choice, employers will not only be boosting the wellbeing and productivity of their colleagues, they will also be contributing to a society which is better positioned to take on the challenges of the future.
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