With a good chunk of society having at least one child, your employee base is likely comprised of a large number of working parents. And, with many of them in the middle of their careers, they aren’t likely going anywhere anytime soon. The below stats about working families published by the Pew Research Center show that both mothers AND fathers have difficulty managing their multiple responsibilities when they lack work flexibility. So, how can employers attract and retain valuable working parents? Check out the information below.
Here’s a snapshot of the stats about working families from the Pew Research Center study:
- 46 percent of families have two full-time working parents.
- 17 percent of families have a full-time employed dad and a part-time employed mom.
- 26 percent of families have a full-time employed dad with the mom serving as a stay-at-home parent.
- When both parents work full-time, most say that neither career takes priority.
- 54 percent of mothers report being responsible for children’s schedules and activities.
- 47 percent of parents say they share care responsibilities when children are sick.
- Unlimited job posts
- Low, flat membership fee
- Access top-level remote advice
- Unlimited resume searches
- Reach the right candidates
- And so much more!
- 56 percent of working parents report difficulty balancing work and family. This accounts for 60 percent of mothers saying it is difficult and 52 percent of fathers.
- Parents report finding more enjoyment in parenting when they have balance between work and life.
- 59 percent of working parents say that being a working parent has made no difference in their career advancement.
- However, 41 percent of mothers and 20 percent of fathers report that being a working parent has made career advancement harder.
- 40 percent of full-time mothers compared to 29 percent of part-time or unemployed mothers report feeling rushed all the time.
- As for spending time with their children, 50 percent of fathers and 39 percent of mothers say that they spend too little time with their children.
Discover a better way to recruit remote talent
Founded in 2007, FlexJobs is the most experienced remote & hybrid hiring platform.
What does this mean for you as an employer?
Ever wonder how some employers seem to snag some of the best talent around and then keep them? In a few simple words, it’s likely because of work flexibility. Working parents, and even single professionals, enjoy having the autonomy to make their own decisions and know that they are free to make the decisions of what takes priority. Sure, it sounds a little crazy giving an employee that much control, but in reality, professionals who are afforded the opportunity for work-life balance deliver positive results to their employers. Here are a few things you can do to make your company an attractive choice:
Provide flexibility.
Working parents find it difficult to successfully balance work and life, particularly when they aren’t offered flexible work options. By providing flexibility to your employees, you can attract top talent and retain them because they can manage their career progression and life responsibilities without feeling like they are failing in both areas. And the happier your employees, the more loyal and productive they will be.
Make flexibility clear in job descriptions.
For many professionals, they won’t consider a position without the option for some sort of work flexibility. By leaving this information out of your descriptions, you are limiting those that will apply. Unfortunately, this could mean losing out on recruiting hard-working, high-achieving working parents.
Make sure to add your flexible component to your job descriptions. It doesn’t have to be long or even very descriptive. Simply state the flexibility offered and where job seekers can or will learn more.
Incorporate flexibility into your brand and culture.
Going beyond your job descriptions, taking flexibility and incorporating it into your brand and company culture can do wonders! Simply put, becoming a flexible brand and creating a company culture that values work-life balance will attract and retain top talent.
If you are already a flexible employer and are noticing that there is little engagement, consider looking at the processes in place to communicate the policies. For those considering a more flexible environment, do your research and consider starting with a small test group. You’ll likely find that you aren’t alone in your fears, but in the end, most of them will be unfounded.
Looking for more information on work flexibility? Check our flex workplaces category!
Readers, what are your thoughts on these stats about working families? Do you think that work flexibility would change the numbers? Share your thoughts with us below!
photo credit: istockphoto.com
Don't forget to share this article with colleagues!
