HR Policy Association hosted a webinar featuring panelists from three member companies exploring the ways employers can help working parents juggle the myriad challenges associated with losing access to child care during the pandemic.
In a recent survey of HR Policy members, 53% stated they are concerned about the impact to working parents but have not taken specific steps yet to address these concerns while 34% have started taking steps to address the impact on working parents.
With varied needs among employees, a combination of multiple policies has been most successful. Panelists stressed the importance of flexibility in approaching this issue as school and day care closures vary given their location, making it almost impossible to meet the needs of every employee with one policy or benefit. Multi-layered strategies involving a combination of paid leave, care reimbursement, increased access to resources like online learning, and increased schedule flexibility allow employers to assist employees requiring different types of challenges. Each stressed the importance of listening to and understanding the needs of each employee to determine the best approach for their family and colleagues.
Even as employees return to their offices, child care will remain an issue for working parents. Child care is typically the second largest expense in a household, costing about 10% of the average family's income. With the high cost of care, parents are increasingly interested in child care that involves an educational curriculum. Employers are beginning to contract with platforms such as Learning Care Group and Bright Horizons that offer access to in-person and virtual learning centers, or apps such as Care.com that provide curated lists of caregivers in an employee's area.