Every week we comb through the news to find employment trends affecting the hospitality industry so you don’t have to. This week’s topic: what working parents need from their managers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the last couple of years 80% of American families included one employed parent. With 63 million households having at least one child under 18 living in the house, that means that at least 16% of the total workforce is comprised of working parents.
Engaging and retaining this huge part of the workforce is key – especially considering the labor challenges we’ve been facing over the past year and a half. Not only that, but recruiting and hiring working parents can bring a diverse skill set to your team and help show other employees you’re invested in the culture at work. In order to prioritize retention among this crucial group, it’s important to know:
What do working parents need from their managers?
Flexibility. Though this is in high demand for just about every job seeker, working parents in particular need some element of flexibility in their schedule. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, such as offering a guaranteed number of days off or by implementing shift-swapping software. However you choose to integrate flexibility into your scheduling is beneficial not just for working parents, but for your entire team.
Understanding. Anyone who has children or knows someone with them realizes the level of understanding and patience that goes into being a parent. The same can be said for businesses that employ working parents – understanding and patience is important for this relationship to work. There can be unexpected issues that arise when you have children, meaning that sometimes employed parents may need to leave work or call-off to address what’s going on at home. While this situation isn’t always practical, showing understanding (and not to mention, flexibility) can make work less stressful for parents and retain them on your team.
Consider a staffing partner to better provide for parents
One option businesses have that can help support working parents is partnering with a staffing company. Staffing firms like LGC can quickly deploy workers in case of absences or last-minute call offs to ease the burden parents may feel when an unexpected issue arises. This can also provide the support management needs to add flexibility to employees’ schedules, furthering retention efforts.
If you’re looking for a way to better support working parents and give them what they need from their employer, consider the importance of flexibility and understanding – it can go a long way when engaging your team.
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LGC can quickly deploy workers for temporary or short-term assignments. Contact us today to learn how LGC Now works for your business.