5 Ways Employers Can Help Stressed Parents

from THINK Capital Blue Cross

At least 40% of the workforce are parents, and almost half of those parents find their daily stress overwhelming. Here are five things employers can do to help.

In most companies, parents are not just part of the workforce – they are an important part.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, parents make up at least 40 percent of the U.S. workforce. Almost three quarters of mothers – 73% – are either working or want to enter the labor market; for fathers this figure rises to 94%.

The fact that parental stress levels are soaring across the country is clear, according to a recent statement from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy a potential warning sign for many companies. Murthy’s Consultancy reports that 48% of parents rate their daily stress levels as completely overwhelming and that parents are 65% more likely to say they have experienced high levels of stress in the past month than other adults.

“Parental stress is both a hugely important and under-addressed issue,” said Jen Carricato, senior health education consultant at Capital Blue Cross. “Millions of American moms and dads face numerous challenges every day, and sometimes it can just be too much.”

“But as common as it is, there is a lack of organized approaches to tackling this problem at a personal or societal level, and we need to change that.”

A typical example

Saying there’s a lot going on at Hilary Baude’s is like saying Times Square is somehow crowded.

Baude is a 42-year-old mother of 11- and 5-year-old girls. She is a full-time kindergarten teacher, Ironman athlete and marathon runner, kidney donor, and graduate student in her dissertation year.

“Every single moment of my day is preoccupied with the demands of a full-time job and typical motherhood routines, coupled with the demands of my personal endeavors,” Baude said, adding that her stress “often manifests itself in ways that weigh on me.” Not present with my children at the moment.”

“For example,” she said, “I read to my daughter every night before bed, and as a kindergarten teacher, I can read pretty much any children’s book with expression and engagement.” However, I couldn’t even remember what I was reading to her because I was thinking about all the other things I had to do before morning.”

How employers can help

Employers looking to reduce parenting stress among their employees might consider:

1. Expanded policies and programs to support parents and caregivers in the workplace, such as paid parental leave, subsidized child care, and flexible work schedules.
2. Training for managers on stress management, work-life harmony and optimal working hours for parents and carers.
3. Flexible planning of sick days and doctor’s appointments.
4. Create an employee resource group for working parents and caregivers.
5. Providing comprehensive, affordable health plans that include quality mental health care. Capital Blue Cross, for example, offers a VirtualCare telehealth option and can connect members with behavioral health professionals online or by phone at 866-322-1657. Some companies, including Capital, offer employee assistance programs that make it easier for employees to access mental health professionals for any issue.

Members covered by many Capital employer plans also have access to the insurer’s parenting support app, which includes comprehensive maternity and family health programs including counseling and health coaching. The app also guides employers and employees through resources such as parental leave and return-to-work frameworks, a supportive family checklist and other family planning information.

Support that reduces stress

The most important thing, says Capital’s Carricato, is that employers start paying more attention to parenting stress, recognizing its importance and taking steps to manage it.

“Not just for the benefit of the parents, but also for the benefit of their children,” she said. “Because there is an obvious trickle-down – if a parent is struggling with stress to the point where they are constantly overwhelmed, that will inevitably pass on to the children.”

That brings us back to Hilary Baude, the versatile, sporty, goal-oriented – and sometimes overwhelmed – supermom of two, who said employer support is crucial for stressed-out parents.

“Having a supportive employer is incredibly important for my mental health as I try to balance my personal goals with my role as a mother,” she said. “My employer is flexible and allows me to take time for my children’s school events and sports. He understands that I need to feel fulfilled in my personal life and relationships so I can give my best to my students.”

THINK (Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide information, resources and news on the latest health and insurance topics.