10 Top Tips for Companies to Support Parents
Our Expert Adviser- Rachel Vecht, founder of Educating Matters gives us some top tips on how can companies support parents in the workplace. If you see an opportunity for your workplace to enhance their support for parents, share this article with them and recommend Rachel as a source of expertise.
By empowering parents to have a career and life they love, they will be a happier employee and it will foster employee retention. Now is the time to step up and become an advocate for parents!
We can all play a role in making a change in our workplace.
Here are some ideas of different parent support initiatives you could deploy in your company…
- Offer Flexible Work Options – Remote work, flexible hours, and hybrid models help parents manage both work and home.
- Provide Paid Parental Leave – Equal, generous leave for all parents—birthing, non-birthing, and adoptive—shows true support.
- Normalize Family-Friendly Culture – Leaders should model balance and encourage openness about parenting responsibilities.
- Create Parent Resource Groups – Supportive communities within the workplace reduce isolation and foster shared solutions.
- Childcare Support – Offer on-site daycare, childcare subsidies, or partnerships with local childcare providers.
- Return-to-Work Transition Programs – Phased returns and coaching help parents reintegrate after parental leave smoothly.
- Health & Wellness Benefits That Include Families – Coverage that extends to dependents, plus mental health resources for parents and children.
- Train Managers in Empathy and Flexibility – Equip leaders to support parents with compassion and practical accommodations.
- Promote Career Growth for Working Parents – Ensure parents aren’t penalized for taking leave—offer mentorship, development, and visibility/ Training/ Upskilling
- Listen and Adapt – Regularly gather feedback from working parents and adjust policies to meet real needs.
Rachel Vecht founded ‘Educating Matters’ in 2001 and works with global organisations to engage and support employees (with a special focus on parents & carers). Her extensive client list covers a wealth of different sectors.
Rachel’s practical support draws on her experiences as a school teacher but also the real, everyday experience of raising 4 children and the challenges of integrating work and family. She also provides talks in schools, has an online parenting course, supports parents with 121 consultations and regularly contributes to the press and online forums, with the emphasis on raising children to thrive.
