Return to Office Planning for Parents
Heading back to the workplace?
With some workplaces returning partially or fully in-person, this article aims to help you plan for your return with tips for finding childcare and backup childcare resources, strategies on asking for flexibility, and resources to help you take a proactive approach.
Tips for finding Childcare
Build your network of caregivers. While many of us are excited by the thought of not living, working, and schooling on top of each other in our homes; you may also be experiencing stress around finding childcare. Building a network of daycare, nannies, babysitters, friends and family that are paid to care for your children takes time. Start building this network as soon as possible. The first step is to start doing your research through one of the many sitter finders and start scheduling interviews.
Utilize your employer’s childcare subsidies or resources. Some employers offer childcare subsidies which are employer-provided spending accounts or bonuses designed to help cover the costs, in full or partially, of childcare expenses. Speak to your HR administrator to see if your company offers any subsidies. Connect to your Employer Assistance Program (EAP) to find out if your employer offers any discounts with sitter finder services or for a listing of babysitters in your area.
Backup Childcare resources
Many parents live in fear of the next logistical issue that will bring down the entire week like a sick child, closed down daycare, or any number of unpredictable issues parents face daily. Having a plan for that fateful day can take away some of the anxiety you may be experiencing. This is especially important for those parents who do not have a partner to divvy the sick time with.
Keep your pods. We have resources that we’ve developed during the pandemic that we can turn to. Don’t ditch your quarantine pod just yet. Reaching out to your friends, neighbors or family that supported you through the pandemic, and asking them to be your backup, can be a lifesaver when you are in a jam. They’ll appreciate the heads up that you may still need their support and you’ll have peace of mind that you have a backup plan.
Build your backup childcare “bench”. If possible, more than one backup person or group is even better! For example, you may have a neighbor who can watch your kids in the afternoon a few days a week, a grandparent who is on call to care for them when they’re sick and a pod group to reach out to if daycare or school is shut down. You may want to offer to reciprocate in some way that is meaningful to them and feasible for you. According to Harvard Business Review, you should aim for “at least two to three sitters on your bench, more if you’ll be asking them for last-minute needs. The deeper your bench, the more likely you’ll be able to get help when you need it.”
Strategies on Asking for Flexibility
Proactively discuss flexible options with your manager. If the last 15 months have taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected. Your kids will get sick. Your childcare or school will shut down. You will need to take time off unexpectedly. Let your manager know you’ve created a proactive childcare plan and robust network of backup childcare providers, but there will be times when you cannot make it into the office or work at all. Your manager will likely appreciate your proactive approach, and be more willing to be flexible when necessary.
Worst case scenario: be your own backup. How to get your work done while caring for sick children – this just may be the question of the year for working parents. There is no perfect answer to this question but we’ll do our best to address some different scenarios you could be dealing with.
If your role makes it possible to work from home, let your teammates know you have a sick little one at home, and they may need you during meetings or be seen in your background.
Ask to mute yourself or turn off your camera in meetings when not absolutely necessary due to a sick little one.
Reschedule any non-urgent meetings to a different day.
If you have a partner who is able, take turns caring for your little one and working.
If your role makes it impossible to work from home, ask to change your hours or switch shifts to care for your little one.
Proactive Resources
Resources to help you take a proactive approach. BenefitBump helps you plan for your leave from work and your return to work. If your employer does not offer BenefitBump, you can request it here: Working Parents — Benefit Bump.
Your EAP can be a great resource for finding childcare and mental health support. Contact your HR administrator to learn more.
For more information: 4 Tips to Manage Childcare When You Go Back to the Office (hbr.org), How Parents Can Ask for Flexibility When Offices Reopen - The New York Times (nytimes.com).