How to manage staff with child care responsibilities, when their children go back to school.
When you are running a company, it is important that you are able to get the most out of not only your staff, but your team as a whole.
This means that the company will thrive and hit as many targets as possible. However, it can sometimes be difficult to fit in working hours with those individuals who have child care responsibilities. If this is the case, then it is important that you do everything you can to accommodate these needs in such a way that can benefit both the company and each member of staff.
Discuss expectations
It is vital to get as much information about the staff members’ situation as you possibly can, as this gives you the best chance to fit in with what they need. You should ask about hours that they can work, those that they would rather not work, and also about any contingency plans that may need to be put into place if they need to leave work for any reason.
Their job role should be clearly defined, as well as their specific position within their team. The communication has to be two-way – you need to ask how you can help them, but in addition they need to be aware of what is expected with regards to performance and attendance, too.
Try to be flexible
You may find that those with children require different holidays or working hours. Is there a chance that some of their work could be completed at home? This is often a good compromise, as it means that the work will still be done while your member of staff can look after their child – and this also brings with it the other added benefits of remote working, too.
Aim to help with childcare
If you are a larger company, you may be able to offer childcare on site, which is an increasingly popular option. If this isn’t possible, then offering incentives such as childcare vouchers could help employees to feel valued and supported, and this is likely to raise their morale and performance in the long term.
Ultimately, allowing your staff to feel supported is vital, as it means that you will be rewarded with their loyalty.
A large portion of the workforce currently have childcare commitments, so by ensuring that you are supportive with these, you can always make sure that you really get the best from your team at all times.
