THE CAREERS AFTER BABIES THEMES
The business case for why businesses should be investing in supporting working parents has always been a bit of a no-brainer for me. It's the right thing to do, it saves buckets of money both in hiring and training, it makes the culture better for everyone (non-parents too) and of course it improves diversity and inclusion massively.
So why isn't everyone doing it?
Here are a few facts:
Parents are not a minority, in fact according to the ONS, there will be 7 million new parents in the UK between now and 2033. 3 in 4 mothers (75%) are in work, and 92% of fathers are employed.
74% of families in the UK require two working parents in order to survive (ONS)
87% of Mums cannot make full time work work alongside having a family (Careers After Babies report)
89% of parents say that flexible working arrangement have, or would have a positive effect on their wellbeing (Working Families)
The reason to invest is obvious. So why are things still so dire?
For too long we have focused on flexible working alone. It's an absolute imperative, don't get me wrong, but the solution requires so much more than that. Through the Careers After Babies report, being a mother and 12 years working in DEI, I think there are 7 main areas that businesses need to focus on:
Empathetic & inclusive leadership- everyone, especially line managers, needs to be empathetic, inclusive and understanding of the changes and challenges that parenthood brings
Flexible work environment - Parents need to be able to work in a way that works for them and that should be recognised and embedded at every level of the organisation
Equitable and family-friendly policies - parents should have access to fair policies that are applied in a humane way and paid fairly for their contribution
Consistent nurture and support - Parents should be consistently supported at these life-changing times knowing that their careers are secure and they can return to them
Parenting is valued - it should be respected and celebrated throughout the organisation for the phenomenal thing that it is
Visible role models parenting loudly - they shouldn't be hiding their way of balancing work and family
Parents are progressing - they should be returning to their careers and continuing on the same trajectory and reward as if they never went away
These are the themes that underpin the Careers After Babies accreditation. We use data to help organisations understand where they are now then present it back in a way that's really easy to understand. Then we get into the real meaty stuff. Like how to fix it!
We all know that this is the right thing to do, makes financial sense and is the future so let's stop talking and start doing.
If you’re considering accreditation, book a call with me to find out more
Jess Heagren, CEO took part in The Business Case for Investing in Working Parents event hosted by Babbu, the award-winning online learning platform designed to empower parents and nurture children in the first five years. Watch the full event here.
