Help your employees survive the Parental Juggle: Burnout and Bedlam

I had my daughter over 12 years ago, and when she turned 6 months old I literally skipped back to full-time work.??I never felt overly guilty about it. I had a great job, enjoyed my time away from her and my weekends were filled with lots of fun and dedicated time with her.

The only time that has caused me any drama has been the School Holidays - particularly the summer holidays. A period of 6-8 weeks finding childcare or ways to entertain her. Since she turned 9 it's been pretty easy - she is able to amuse herself and that's fine. Plus I only had 1 child - which is plenty in my view - I can't even imagine having two or a few...eek!?

However, if I had been in the horrendous position of having her in the last 3 years - I imagine it would have been a very different story. Literally no escape!

Lockdowns, economic uncertainty and a very different landscape for parents and children have added a further dynamic to parenting.?

One thing I do hear more about now than ever is burnout.

Burnout can have a significant impact on working parents, as they often face unique challenges and responsibilities.?Everyone is in a different situation - even members of the same family unit, so there is no one size fits all solution. I have compiled a list of some ways burnout affects working parents and suggestions for providing support as an employer:

Increased stress?

Balancing work and family responsibilities can lead to chronic stress, which contributes to burnout. The pressure to perform well at work while meeting family needs can be overwhelming.

Supportive measures:

• Encourage open communication: Establish a culture that promotes an open dialogue about work-life balance challenges and encourages seeking support. Parents of unruly teens unite and share their problems.
• Flexible work arrangements: Offer flexible schedules, remote work options, and part-time opportunities to help parents better manage their work and family obligations.

Emotional exhaustion

Juggling work and parenting responsibilities can leave parents feeling emotionally drained. The constant demands from both domains can lead to a sense of depletion.

Supportive measures:

• Emotional support: Provide resources such as counselling services or employee assistance programs to help parents manage stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being.
• Peer support groups: Foster connections among working parents, enabling them to share experiences, exchange advice, and provide emotional support to one another - in person, in Slack Groups, regular bitch and moan sessions on Zoom - whatever works.

Time constraints

Working parents often struggle with limited time for self-care and relaxation, which can lead to burnout. The need to meet work deadlines and attend to family commitments leaves little room for personal time.

Supportive measures:

• Time management support: Offer training or workshops on effective time management techniques to help parents prioritise tasks and allocate time for self-care.
• Encourage self-care: Promote the importance of self-care and provide resources such as wellness programs, mindfulness training, or access to fitness facilities.

Guilt and pressure

Parents may experience guilt when they are unable to devote sufficient time to their children or feel pressure to excel in both their professional and parenting roles.

Supportive measures:

• Flexible leave policies: Implement generous parental leave policies and accommodate parents' needs for time off to attend to family matters.
• Performance expectations: Set realistic expectations and goals that consider the unique circumstances of working parents, allowing for healthy work-life integration.

Lack of support structures

Working parents may face challenges in finding adequate childcare, managing household responsibilities, and accessing support networks, which can contribute to burnout.

Supportive measures:

• Child Care Assistance: Provide information on available childcare options, subsidies, or referrals to reputable childcare providers.
• Employee resource groups: Establish networks or groups specifically for working parents to foster connections, provide guidance, and share resources. Even a babysitting or emergency school pick-up help group - knowing there is reciprocal help out there will really help.

These are suggestions I have picked up through inclusion workshops, working with businesses in order to provide a more inclusive and supportive working environment.

Overall, creating a supportive work environment that recognises and addresses the challenges faced by working parents is crucial. By implementing policies and programmes that prioritise work-life balance, providing resources for emotional well-being, and fostering a culture of understanding and support, organisations can help working parents thrive in the world of work.

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If you would like to find out more about our Inclusive Search Practice and Inclusion Consultancy get in touch at?[email protected]

Laura Bosworth is the Founder and CEO of Worket, an Inclusive Search Consultancy that works exclusively with purposeful businesses across the Professional and Financial Services Sector, including the Investment and Asset Management Sector.

Delivering high-performance, diverse, impactful change that will demand progress and highlight opportunities to a diverse audience.