3. avoid special treatment
While it is important to be sensitive and respectful towards the realities of parenthood, be careful not to give free passes to anyone. It will be unfair for others if working parents are given lesser responsibilities. Other colleagues without kids will end up clocking more hours at work to make up for the lost productivity. Giving special treatment to working parents will adversely impact employee morale and increase your attrition rate.
In order to maintain a positive team dynamic and culture, employees must be given an equal opportunity to contribute based on their skills and work experience, regardless of their marital status and gender.
An equal and balanced workplace can only occur if all employees receive the same level of opportunity and responsibility.
4. be open to connecting with children
As remote working becomes a reality for companies all around the world, it is unavoidable for working parents to host meetings or attend to calls at home. This means that colleagues and even clients and customers will have a glimpse into the lives of the working parents.
Just like us when we were younger, kids love to pretend that they are adults. This means that they may sometimes sit next to their parents during video calls or even participate in the conversation. If you are just having an informal catch-up with them, it would be fine to have the kids on the call too. You could even interact with the children and explain to them what their parents are doing at work. However, remind them that they should try to have calls with clients and customers in a private setting to maintain the company’s and their professionalism.
Your employees will appreciate your ability to understand their unique circumstances and you can even foster a deeper relationship with your staff.
be understanding and trust your employees
You may not be a working parent, but you are managing one. As a manager, you need to try and understand the challenges your employees face so that you can provide the right level of support and flexibility.
Working parents who have to juggle their professional responsibilities and the well-being of their kids will appreciate any support they can get during this challenging period. Your ability to empathise and show up for your team in good and bad times will go a long way in building your brand as a great leader.
What works for you might not work for others. As long as your employees are able to complete their work on time and not compromise on the quality, give them a little flexibility around when and how they want to work throughout the day.
If you need help building a diverse workforce or more tips on managing your team, connect with us for a discussion.