Latest news with #workingparents
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tips for Working Parents Managing Kids During the Summer
New Research reveals 76% of working parents say their kids' summer schedules impact their job focus NEWTON, Mass., July 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Summer break can be a terrific time to relax, but with school out and children's new found freedom, this is the time of year when the pressure really ramps up for working parents, according to a recent article in New York Family. The article references recent research from the Modern Family Index (MFI), commissioned by Bright Horizons (NYSE:BFAM) and conducted by The Harris Poll, which revealed that 68% of parents surveyed agreed that sometimes summer feels like a break for everyone but themselves. This time of year is particularly challenging for working parents—with 76% saying the level of focus they have at work during the summer is directly tied to the reliability of their children's summer schedules. As working parents try to juggle professional responsibilities with increased family demands, their level of focus and productivity tends to suffer during the summer months, with 87% reporting that they experience challenges or disruptions while their children are home in the summer. Claire Goss, Senior Manager of Parenting Education at Bright Horizons, suggests a few tips for parents on creating a home environment where everyone feels supported. Give kids their own summer schedule or daily checklist filled with fun, age-appropriate activities. Allowing children to have a say in how their day will unfold helps foster a sense of independence. Create a positive, easy chore routine for kids during the day. Have open-ended materials available and easy to access for times when boredom might arise. Consider swapping out available materials throughout the week to create a sense of novelty and variety for your children. Set clear do-not-disturb times with a signal system to note when you shouldn't be interrupted. Let Go of Super Mom/Dad: Some additional ideas from a story in Forbes encourages working parents to release themselves from the perfectionist trap and set realistic expectations. This includes: Managing expectations: Explaining that while summer will be fun, you still have work responsibilities. Setting boundaries with your partner: Have honest conversations about sharing the summer load equitably. Communicate with your manager: Have proactive talks about summer flexibility and potential schedule adjustments to ensure a smooth transition. Give yourself permission to be imperfect: Your house might be messier, dinner might come from the freezer more often and your kids might watch more screens than usual. Support For Working Parents To alleviate the burden and provide more peace of mind, many working parents are looking to their employers for additional support. Results from the Modern Family Index survey revealed that more than three-quarters of working parents (76%) say they wish their employer offered more supports to help them arrange a reliable summer schedule for their children. "Today's working parents aren't afraid to speak up and ask for what they need," commented Stephen Kramer, CEO of Bright Horizons. "When employers offer meaningful supports that help working parents—whether by providing access to childcare, back-up care, camp resources, or other benefits—they're not only relieving pressure on parents, but are fostering a more engaged, loyal, and productive workforce." About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. Bright Horizons® is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and childcare, back-up care, and workforce education services. For more than 35 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates more than 1,000 early education and childcare centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India, and serves more than 1,450 of the world's leading employers. Bright Horizons' early education and childcare centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to View source version on Contacts Laura Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Working Grandmas Are Still Doing the Child Care Juggle
I recently asked Google to show me pictures of a grandmother. It shot back pages of kindly old women with clouds of gray hair and orthopaedic shoes. None looked like Sharline Andersen, 60, an energetic events director in Fresno, Calif., who raised four daughters while working and is now a grandmother of 12, including half a dozen step-grandkids. 'I don't see retirement as anything close to my future,' she says. 'I feel like I have a lot of energy left and a lot left to give.' Andersen was among the millions of young moms who poured into the workplace in the 1980s and 1990s. Their generation came of age when the 'Mommy Wars' demonized them and experts ominously warned that they would ruin their kids. Decades later, many are still at work—and determined to 'break that cycle' of 'doom and gloom' as Andersen puts it, now that their grown kids are becoming working parents themselves.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
15 Ways Companies Can Support Working Parents During School Breaks
For working parents, juggling childcare and job responsibilities becomes even more complex during school breaks, and these employees need support from their workplace. Flexibility on work location and hours is a good start, but there are many other creative ways employers can ease this burden. To help businesses create a more inclusive and family-friendly workplace, Forbes Human Resources Council members share 15 smart strategies for supporting working parents beyond flexible scheduling. From offering backup care options to planning family-friendly company events, your proactive support as a leader can boost morale and foster loyalty and long-term retention. 1. Destigmatize Time Off For Childcare Employers must destigmatize time off for childcare, including school breaks and parental leave, especially for men. Goldin's "motherhood penalty" research shows why this matters. HR needs to understand these patterns to foster true workplace equality and encourage men to take leave, normalizing it for everyone. - Erika Andersson, Allshares 2. Offer Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Employers can offer a dependent care FSA that allows employees to save pre-tax deductions from their paycheck for summer camps and childcare needs or partner with local summer camps and childcare providers to offer stipends. Employee resource groups are also a great resource of shared experiences, support and often have creative solutions to everyday challenges. - Crystal Williams, Corpay 3. Make The Workload More Manageable Employers can support working parents by encouraging time off and making work more manageable. This includes back-up care options, fewer meetings, more on-demand or independent work and relaxed summer hours. Small things like offering a stipend for camp or being clear that it's okay to take time off can go a long way. Managers should also plan ahead and show understanding during these busy times. - Amy Cappellanti-Wolf, Dayforce 4. Establish Parent Support Networks In addition to providing flexible spending accounts, daycare support and personal time off for parents, employers could establish a support network for parents with children of similar ages and in the same area. These networks can be beneficial for parents looking to share transportation and arrange playdates. Also, financial benefits for sports or educational activities could be helpful. - Kevin Walters, Top DEI Consulting 5. Offer Subsidized Programs And Caregiving Resources Caregivers who work full-time are juggling a lot, and they often feel stretched pretty thin. Alongside flexibility, employers can support their employees with subsidized programs, like childcare or day camps, and caregiving support resources, like mental health. Above all else, ask your employees what they need most to help them balance caregiving, work and personal life successfully. - Marcy Klipfel, Businessolver Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify? 6. Consider Alternatives To Meetings Consider alternative forms of communication to reduce the number of meetings. By having less on their schedule, working parents will have more flexibility in their days, allowing them to manage camp pickups and drop-offs between emails and projects. - Caitlin MacGregor, Plum 7. Ask What Employees Actually Need Flexibility isn't just about where you work—it's also about when, how much, with whom and what kind of work. To support working parents, especially during school breaks, ask them what they actually need, instead of just offering token perks. Design roles with adaptable time, workload and team setups. True support means fitting work around life, not the other way around. - Prithvi Singh Shergill, Tomorrow @entomo 8. Offer Care Stipends And Tailored PTO School breaks test more than logistics—they test your culture. Go beyond flexibility with care stipends, tailored PTO options and peer networks for support. Train managers to lead with empathy, not exception. When support is proactive and policies reflect lived realities, performance rises, and retention becomes a byproduct of belonging. - Apryl Evans, USA for UNHCR 9. Implement Summer Hours Implement "summer hours"—such as shortened workweeks, early Friday closures or reduced meeting schedules during summer months. Offering this enhanced seasonal flexibility allows parents to better manage childcare responsibilities and family commitments. - Britton Bloch, Navy Federal 10. Offer A Lifestyle Spending Account Offer a lifestyle spending account (LSA) to offset childcare expenses during summer months or to pay for summer camps and related programs. Funds may also be used to pay for games and hobbies, outdoor activities, entertainment expenses, healthy food options, travel and other approved expenditures. Because LSAs can be used by all employees and not just working parents, it's a highly inclusive option. - Lori Landrum, Heights Tower Service, Inc. 11. Be Empathetic Support starts with empathy. Respect boundaries, trust employees to manage their time and invest in their growth. When people feel seen, supported and set up to succeed—at home and work—they stay engaged, motivated and loyal. - Jamie Aitken, Betterworks 12. Make Sure Parents Feel Welcome And Supported Employers need to make sure that working parents feel welcome and supported at work. Flexible hours, working from home or job-sharing are all good tools. However, don't discount the value of employee support programs or parent social groups as a safe place to talk about any problems. Lastly, educate managers on how to help parents in the best way possible. - Dr. Nara Ringrose, Cyclife Aquila Nuclear 13. Encourage PTO During School Breaks Employers must actively promote an environment where parents feel empowered and supported in taking that time off during school breaks. This means eliminating any unspoken pressure or fear of reprisal for taking leave. Managers should proactively discuss upcoming school breaks with their teams, inquire about their plans and encourage them to schedule their time off to plan schedules accordingly. - Sherry Martin 14. Provide Employee And Family Assistance Programs School breaks are a great time to highlight your employee and family assistance program (EFAP), reminding caregivers of the resources and referrals available. Many EFAPs offer concierge-like services to connect employees with local childcare, camps and learning programs. Consider partnerships with discount providers or community groups to ease costs. - Jennifer Rozon, McLean & Company 15. Build A Culture That Encourages Time Off Whether parents or not, employers should actively encourage the use of paid time off to their workforce, reinforcing that rest is essential for sustained performance. This is especially important for working parents, who often face added demands during these periods. Promoting a culture that normalizes time off helps prevent burnout and supports overall well-being across the workforce. - Dr. Timothy J. Giardino,
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Awkward moment live TV interview goes off the rails after Ally Langdon praises senator for bringing her baby boy to parliament
An interview with senator Corinne Mulholland has been derailed live on air after Ally Langdon praised the politician for taking her baby boy into the chamber with her. Mulholland halted her chat with Langdon on A Current Affair on Thursday after realising she needed to 'go and vote' immediately despite being mid-way through the interview. The senator later returned to finish off the chat in which Langdon grilled the politician on her decision to bring her baby son Augie with her while addressing parliament for the first time on Wednesday. Mulholland was elected as a Labor senator for Queensland in this year's May federal election and brought her son with her to highlight the struggles of working parents. Speaking parliament, she said: 'I stand here tonight, holding my young son, as you can see, with his bedtime fast approaching. 'I am praying that Augie and I make it through this speech unscathed, so God speed. 'Augie is here not as a symbol, but as a powerful reminder of why I am here. I'm a wife and a mum from the outer suburbs of Queensland.' Langdon asked the senator to explain further about why her baby boy was a 'powerful reminder' to her colleagues in parliament. Mulholland replied: 'The job of the politician is not dissimilar to many other working mums out there where we need to work around the clock and we need to make it work.' In the background, a bell could be heard ringing out, which Mulholland explained was a reminder that she needed to go and vote. 'There was a moment when you handed [Augie] over to a colleague last night, and I loved the message that it sent that it takes a village,' Langdon continued. 'But there was a part of me watching Augie in parliament where I thought, won't it be great when this doesn't make news, when it's not unusual?' The senator agreed and said what drives her is working towards helping other mums have flexibility in the workplace. She then cut off the Nine News presenter and explained she had to interrupt the interview to vote immediately. Mulholland asked Langdon to wait on standby while she voted. The news presenter awkwardly looked at her watch as she waited for the politician to return. A short while later, Mulholland resumed the interview with her baby boy as Langdon jokingly asked: 'How did Auggie vote on that one?' 'He let me vote this time, he let me proxy for him,' the senator replied. The news presenter pointed out Augie's appearance in parliament marks progress after Victorian MP Kirsty Marshall was asked to leave state parliament for breastfeeding her 11-day-old daughter back in 2003. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young's two-year-old was also kicked out of the senate in 2009.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
She Once Gave Up Her Entire Salary For Child Care—Now Her $100M Startup Covers It For Every Employee
Child care costs can drain a paycheck, but at Cakes Body, those bills are now handled by the company itself. The women-led brand, founded by twin sisters Casey Sarai and Taylor Capuano, announced it will cover up to $3,000 per month in day care for each employee with children too young for school, Inc. reports. The benefit totals $36,000 annually per employee and applies to both men and women on the team. So far, six of the company's 30 employees are enrolled. This move comes as Cakes Body nears $150 million in annual revenue after going viral on TikTok and gaining national attention through 'Shark Tank,' Inc. says. Don't Miss: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — Federal data from the Department of Labor shows child care in the U.S. ranges from $6,552 to $15,600 per year, depending on location. According to Inc., Cakes Body more than doubles that value to remove the financial pressure from its employees entirely. The Founders Used Their Own Lives as a Blueprint for Change At her last corporate job, almost all of Capuano's paycheck went to day care. Sarai has two children of her own and said the two built Cakes Body to support working women and solve problems that companies often ignore. The sisters run the company remotely, with Sarai in Los Angeles and Capuano in New York, Inc. says. Their team spans the U.S. Cakes Body offers the benefit despite the fact that the current U.S. employer tax credit caps at $3,500 per year. Sarai told Inc. that the sisters plan to advocate for higher tax advantages to make similar support easier for other companies to offer. Trending: $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. Their goal is to normalize child care support in the workplace instead of treating it as an optional perk. "It became clear that if we wanted a workplace culture that truly supported us as whole humans, we'd have to build it ourselves," Capuano told Inc. "This support should be the norm." "The Cakes Childcare Credit is designed to support all parents—mothers and fathers alike—reflecting our belief that caregiving responsibilities shouldn't automatically fall on women or lead anyone to step back from their careers," Sarai told Inc. Viral Growth, Shark Tank Buzz, and a Culture Built on Recovery Cakes Body became widely known after a TikTok campaign promoting its reusable silicone nipple covers took off. The exposure led to an appearance on "Shark Tank," where Emma Grede, co-founder of Good American and founding partner of Skims, offered $300,000 for 10% of the business Inc. to Cakes Body, the company operates with a mission to combine product innovation with purpose, which includes supporting breast cancer research. To date, the company has donated over $1 million to breast health causes and is currently partnered with Dr. Laura van't Veer through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In addition to child care, Inc. says Cakes Body gives employees two paid days off every quarter and offers a "quiet period" from mid-December to mid-January where no emails or calls are expected. Sarai told Inc. that these rhythms help employees recover and return focused, making the team stronger over time. The company sees these investments as essential to long-term performance and culture. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article She Once Gave Up Her Entire Salary For Child Care—Now Her $100M Startup Covers It For Every Employee originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
