Why 76% of Working Parents Want More Support. And What Smart Employers Are Doing About It

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Summer holidays. Six weeks of juggling school closures, work deadlines, holiday clubs, and the mental load of keeping everyone alive, fed, and happy. It's a lot.

For working parents, this isn’t “a nice break” where you get more time with your children, it’s often the most stressful time of the year. And according to a recent report, 76% of working parents say they wish they had more support from their employer during this period.

If you’re an employer reading this, know that supporting your people during the summer isn’t just “the nice thing to do.” It’s a smart business move.

Because when you don’t…

• You lose good people.

• Productivity drops.

• Your employer brand takes a hit.

  
  

When you do… retention goes up, wellbeing improves, and your teams actually perform better.

So, what does meaningful support look like? Here’s what the best companies are doing right now:

1. Flexibility That’s Actually Flexible

• Adjust start/finish times and meeting schedules. No one is making that 8.30am meeting

• Offer condensed weeks or split shifts

• Use “core hours” so parents know when they really need to be online and allow flexibility for work to be completed around this

2. Workload Adjustments

• Set clear expectations of deliverables through this period

• Avoid big launches in August

• Set up buddy systems so people can take time without guilt

• Ask people what support they need

3. Childcare & Cost Support

• Partner with local holiday clubs

• Offer subsidies or discounts for camps and activities

4. Culture That Walks the Talk

• Start summer planning chats early

• Create No-meeting zones to give people breathing space, is this an hour at lunch or Friday afternoons

• Ensures leaders role-model family time

5. Wellbeing & Mental Load Help

• Share a “summer survival” toolkit with resources and tools

• Run workshops on parental guilt and overwhelm

• Offer coaching or EAP sessions, we run these as group sessions, brilliant for community building

Business Benefits: This isn’t just about keeping parents happy, it’s about business performance. Companies that support working parents see:

• Higher retention (bye-bye recruitment costs)

• More focused, productive employees

• Better morale, fewer absences

• A stronger reputation as a family-friendly employer

• Progress on gender equity

Summer support isn’t a perk. It’s a retention strategy, a productivity booster, and a culture builder. If you’re serious about keeping your best talent, make this the year you step up for your working parents and build these elements into your culture.

At Career & Parenthood, we partner with both organisations and individuals to create workplaces where working parents can thrive. From coaching programmes for individuals to company-wide initiatives supporting parental returners, we help embed sustainable, family-friendly cultures that drive talent retention and career progression.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If any of these signs resonate with you, let’s talk. Whether you’re an individual navigating your return to work or an organisation looking to enhance your support for working parents, we’re here to help. Book a free discovery call today and start building a workplace where careers and parenthood can thrive together.

Book a free discovery call