A Cure for the Working Parent Summertime Blues

How your employer can ease summertime stress

By Tracey Carish

Remember those days when summertime was nothing but fun? We swam, played, went to baseball games and hung out with our friends. We didn’t have to figure out who was going to watch us while our parents were at work. We never forked over money to camps and childcare providers, and we certainly didn’t have to leave our jobs in a mad rush because it was our turn for the carpool pickup. Summertime once symbolized the carefree innocence of our youth. Oh, how times have changed, haven’t they?

As we roll into spring, summer already looms heavy in the minds of many working parents. Sure, we still look forward to the warm weather and family vacations, but now we also have to deal with the complicated side of summer. We’re budgeting for additional childcare expenses, piecing together day care options, and figuring out how to balance our work schedules with the kids’ activities. Summertime and the livin’ isn’t so easy, is it?

However, today’s working parents can bring back the fun and reduce that summertime tension. More and more employers are helping to ease the stress and financial burden of it all with flexible work programs. By implementing adjusted work hours and providing telecommuting options, companies help families get the most out of summer and in turn, these businesses get the most out of their employees. With less stress and an enhanced work-life balance, employees improve their performance on the job and demonstrate increased loyalty to their employers.

Now, you might be thinking, “Having a flexible schedule sounds great and all, but that will never fly with my boss!” So let’s talk about how to get your employer on board. More American businesses are offering flexible schedules because studies show both employees and employers benefit from them. If you spend some time researching the issue and putting together a compelling proposal, you could be joining the estimated 31% of full-time American workers who currently enjoy flexible scheduling options.

Do Your Homework

It may be early spring, but you need to start sowing the seeds for your flexible summer schedule now. Consult your employee handbook or talk with a company HR representative to learn about flexible work policies that may already exist. If your employer doesn’t have such programs in place, research the topic and build a case for implementing one. Educate yourself on alternative work arrangements so you can help your employer understand the benefits these programs can bring to the business. Here are a few facts to get you started:

• Studies show that flexible work plans contribute to employee retention and play an important role in becoming an employer of choice.
• Flexible work schedules rank at the top of all work-life programs for reducing absenteeism and tardiness.
• Increases in employee productivity, creativity and morale have been attributed to the implementation of flexible work options.
• In a ranking of the 20 most common work-life programs, alternative work arrangements ranked #1 in overall effectiveness.

Put it in Writing

After giving time and thought to your ideal summer work schedule, your next step is effectively communicating it to your employer. Write up your proposal and include all key components of the plan.

• Clearly define the schedule you’re seeking for the summer by outlining the hours for each day and indicating the times you anticipate working off-site.
• Address how coworkers and contacts will be able to reach you if you’re gone during normal business hours.
• Identify technological tools you can use to stay connected to your responsibilities.
• Anticipate concerns your boss might have and develop creative solutions to each of those issues.

Make the Pitch

Schedule a meeting to discuss your flexible work plan with your boss and an HR representative. Bring multiple copies of your proposal and any other printed resources you feel might help your case. Show your enthusiasm and express your commitment to making this scheduling arrangement work.

Just imagine a summer where you aren’t counting the days until school starts up again. Like those of our youth, the summer months can be more relaxing than the rest of the year, instead of more stressful. You can spend less money on childcare and have more time available for the fun stuff. With some thoughtful planning and open communication, you could be looking forward to this year’s summer break just as much as your kids.

Additional resources on flexible work schedules:

Winning Support for Flexible Work

http://blogs.hbr.org/hmu/2010/12/winning-support-for-flexible-w.html

Sloan Work and Family Research Network Report

http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/pdfs/flexworksched.pdf

Understanding Flexible Work Arrangements

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/powerpoint-help/understand-flexible-work-arrangements-HA001207406.aspx