GM Financial’s Post

How do you empower line managers to support parents in the workplace? Because if I've said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times - this isn’t for those smashing folks in HR to fix. Sure, it might escalate to that kind of intervention, but I'm pretty sure it's not what we’re aiming for! Employees who feel well supported by their line manager are a whopping 3.4 times more likely to feel engaged at work (Inpulse survery of 50,000 employees, 2022) - figures like that leave me feeling in awe and nervous all in one go. There’s so much pressure on line managers to get things ‘right’ and not say the wrong thing. To know the ins and outs of policies straight away. To think through everything from returner support to how you can help parents feeling the childcare pinch over school holidays. And about 342 things I haven’t mentioned. My advice (if you’re looking for some) when it comes to putting a metaphorical arm around your valued line managers is this: 1. Create a community - think parent support network but for line managers. Let them have a space to share their stories, get peer support and hear what’s working well. We want inspiration not perspiration, and low maintenance. 2. Have a hub - if my Power of the Parent® pals had a pound for everytime a client has said to us ‘we have lots of great stuff but nobody knows how to access it’ we’d have approximately £93. If you can craft a space that houses everything they need, it's time to step up to the plate. The best ones are those that don’t focus solely on policy, but also bring in conversation support and promote the importance of storytelling. 3. Set up a feedback loop. Whatever you’re asking line managers to do, whichever policy you’re landing or whenever you’re rolling out a new workshop - make sure they can tell you how it’s gone. Get their ideas, their experiences and hear their reality. And if the second half of 2024 has got 'parental and line manager support' written all over it for you, I'll leave a booking link in the first comment to chat to me. #PowerOfTheParent #LineManagerDevelopment #ParentsAtWork

Balancing work and family can pose distinct challenges for parents. The Parenting Family Hub, an employee benefit designed to support parent employees, offers a comprehensive range of resources across six key topics. Explore more by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/efRt9GjU

The #GlobalDayofParents is observed annually as a celebration of one of the most important jobs in the world: being a parent. Although we missed acknowledging it on June 1st, it got us reflecting on the critical role parents and parental figures play in creating a better world for their children and future generations.    At the Evaluation for Development practuce (#E4D) at Genesis Analytics, we make every effort to foster a culture that values and supports working parents, empowering them to achieve a healthy work-life balance, and in turn promoting family well-being. But don’t let us tell you - here’s what Corinne Lalla had to say about the ways E4D supports #WorkingParents and why this is so important to her:   “As a parent, it is wonderful to work with other parents in our team (as seniors) who value their family time and are boundaried about it, as much as they value their work. I enjoy hearing about birthday parties, new family pets, seeing sick kids sit on parents’ laps or barge into meetings because those displays are relatable. It makes my "crazy" look so normal. I think those kinds of displays should be normalised now outside of how we functioned in COVID-19 so that team members who don't have families can see that juggling these priorities (of work and family) are a normal part of life and the way we can work, without feeling any sense of shame that our family life or families "disrupt" how we work. That's not to say that the juggling act is easy on our nervous systems, but it is to say that you are more than just a worker.   What I absolutely appreciate is the E4D team's respect of that blocked time that I have put in my calendar for pickups and school meetings and that they are not booked over. Our team is thoughtful about how we engage with each other and that shows for me.”   Corinne Lalla is seen here taking a coffee break with colleague Annette Petunia Mahlangu. #EvaluationTeam #Impact #Insights #TeamCulture #GetToKnowUs

We're already at Week 3 of our #NewYearsResolution challenge with Moms First to make workplaces work out for moms! Imagine a world where daycare drop-offs don't mean missed meetings, and school plays don't clash with demanding deadlines. That's the power of a parent-friendly manager. It's time to rewrite the ending to that story – one where moms juggle and soar, fueled by supportive bosses. This week, we're asking all moms to share their personal stories and examples of how a manager created a friendly, flexible environment for them or someone they know! Or if you’re a manager, share what you do to make the workplace work for moms!

At 9fin, we are intentionally building an inclusive workplace where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. 💙 We recently launched 9fam, an initiative to boost our support to new parents. Check out my blog on Flexa to learn more about this initiative which includes: 🤝 Return to work coaching 🗓 Dedicated re-onboarding programmes 🤸♂️ Genuinely flexible working ... all underpinned with a high trust environment - "if you prioritise output and trust that your people are working hard in a way that best suits them, everything else falls into place." 💪 https://lnkd.in/eR2A6NGR

👪 Are working parents afraid to use available support at work? Discover why in our latest article by Alison Green 🤔 Dive into the findings of our extensive research and learn how organisations can foster a culture of trust and openness. 💼 Don't miss out on insights from working parent champion https://bit.ly/49s2RcA #WorkingParents #EmployeeSupport #CompanyCulture

If you want to celebrate #EmployeeAppreciationDay in a way that actually benefits the working moms at your company, then it’s time to make these switches and help them feel supported in both work AND motherhood.  Moms are speaking up about what their needs are when it comes to balancing their jobs with life outside of the office, and it’s time for employers to listen. How do you think companies can show appreciation for working parents? Let us know in the comments below! 👇 #BreastPractices #HRInnovation #EmployeeAppreciation #EmployeeWellbeing 

A very interesting article in the The Wall Street Journal by Tara Weiss Bronstein showing how a growing number of companies are realising the importance of implementing reboarding programs for their new parents and the need to include managers in this process. Companies taking on these measures are noticing a culture shift and increasing their retention of mothers. If you would like to support new parents, do get in touch to find our more about how we can add value to your organisation. #maternitycoaching #talentretention #workplacewellbeing #parenting

Thanks for sharing your story Simon! Getting the balance right between work and parenting is so important. In this article, Simon Caughey-Rogers talks about his career journey and how he strikes the right balance as primary caregiver to two school-age children. #IWork4EM #TeamEM #Parenting Simon Caughey-Rogers

Today we’re at #EmployeeBenefitsLive talking to companies about how they can better support their working parent employees. Why are working parents so special? Because they’re a huge chunk of your workforce and they’re at risk of checking out of your org if you don’t check in with them! There’s a clear business cost to losing mid/ senior level staff with experience, subject expertise and efficiency just because they weren’t supported through the transition into parenthood. Here’s how we help you look after them from ‘expecting’ to ‘returning’ and beyond 👇 (With thanks to Rubix for a lovely quote about how we help them)