As pioneers of Paid Parental Leave Insurance, we’re no strangers to advocating. So as companies are looking for strategies to enhance their bottom line, one overlooked opportunity is mobilizing working parents. To humanize and reinvent insurance, we’ll explore the impact of mobilizing working parents, delve into how Parento is reinventing insurance, and how PPL tangibly transforms the workplace. Keep reading for some great resources and insights to help companies take a holistic people-first approach to enhancing the workplace this year.
There’s a reason working parents are the barometer for the health of an organization. Juggling multiple roles, they can be the most dedicated and hardworking employees. By the time they start working, your parent employees have already completed a substantial amount of daily responsibilities for their families with more to follow when their workday ends. They’re dedicated and motivated, they just don’t want to choose between their families or careers.
If you're an ERG leader or employee representative looking to add new policies, check out our free Paid Parental Leave Advocacy Toolkit.
Mobilizing this subset of employees can help you stay ahead of the competitive business landscape and unpredictable market. Working parents are powerful champions. If parents rally together behind something, it’ll happen. They will advocate and spread the news about your company and culture for you.
When working parents feel supported in balancing their professional and personal lives, they're more likely to be engaged, productive, and loyal employees. By implementing policies such as flexible work hours, paid parental leave, and childcare assistance, companies can create a more inclusive and supportive culture that attracts and retains top talent.
As an example of how powerful working parents are when they champion for your programs, we recently chatted with Alex Escamilla-Rosenberg, new father to a 6-month old baby and current Parento parent. In this casual Deep Dive conversation, Alex shared his real experience with parent coaching and his thoughts about having access to 12 weeks of fully paid gender-neutral paid parental leave through his employer. Here’s what he had to say:
My work [Rescue Agency] partnered with Parento and offered 3 months full paid parental leave for either parent, which [my wife and I] were pretty excited about... [paid parental leave] is worth a whole lot of salary and vacation time. This is a benefit that is the greatest benefit I could be given, honestly.”
As a Parent Champion, Alex is a prime example of how powerful mobilizing working parents can be. Making workplace benefits accessible isn't just about checking off boxes—it's about investing in the well-being and success of your employees.
It’s critical to take a people-first approach and listen to what employees need to be successful in 2024, so you're investing in the right programs. This is not altruistic; there are tangibly workplace benefits to making benefits accessible. Nearly half your workforce are working parents, so when benefits such as parental leave, child care assistance, and flexible work arrangements are readily available, your employees are better able to manage their responsibilities both in and out of the office. Paid parental leave, in particular, is one of the top requested programs.
Tip: If you don't have any employee feedback mechanisms in place yet, a great place to start is analyzing turnover.
Providing paid parental leave leads to reduced absenteeism, improved work-life balance, and increased productivity, all of which have a direct impact on the bottom line. Additionally, accessible workplace benefits can help companies attract top talent, differentiate themselves in a competitive job market, and enhance their reputation as employers of choice. By investing in paid parental leave and comprehensive support systems like Parento, companies can future-proof their workplace amidst rising costs and economic uncertainty.
To give you an idea of how you can transform your workplace, here are key changes and improvements you can expect you can expect with paid parental leave:
The benefits of mobilizing working parents are clear and compelling. From boosting employee morale and productivity to enhancing the bottom line and promoting a more sustainable business model, supporting working parents is a win-win proposition for employers and employees alike.
As companies continue to navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving workplace landscape, it's essential that they remain open to the needs and concerns of working parents. By advocating for programs and policies that help them succeed in both their professional and personal lives, parents can play a crucial role in shaping the future of work. By implementing policies and support systems that cater to the needs of working parents, companies can unlock benefits that not only improve employee satisfaction and retention but also drive profitability and sustainability. It's time for employers to recognize the value of mobilizing working parents and take proactive steps to support them in achieving their full potential, both at work and at home.
