Businesses can play an important role in helping parents who work and care for children, particularly during school holidays.
Supporting employees at all stages of their lives is not just a nice to have, but a strategic imperative in today’s workplace.
Each stage, from early parenting to eldercare presents its own unique challenges which can affect performance and wellbeing.
I would like to concentrate on one of these challenges – the school holidays – and explore ways that HR professionals can support their employees in coping with what can be an extremely stressful and disruptive period of the year.
Understanding your people to strengthen your workplace
The summer holidays can cause subtle, but important changes in the dynamics of the workforce. Employers often struggle to maintain productivity and morale while working parents deal with the emotional ups and downs of the holiday season.
According to the Modern Families Index for 2025, almost one-third (score 8 or higher on a scale of 10-points) of UK working parents report feeling very stressed. Eighty percent of those who are working parents and carers report that they have difficulty concentrating at work.
Parents’ energy, focus and wellbeing can be affected by the emotional buildup to holidays. It is not just an issue for individuals; it’s a problem that affects the workplace. This is a problem that HR professionals can’t afford to ignore.
The State of Childhood Report for 2025 shows that 25% of parents of primary-school aged children now turn to their employers for help, not just for holiday camps, but also mental health resources.
The study also found that 75% parents have at least some concern about the mental health of their children, and this concern is consistent for all age groups. This figure increases to 77% to 79% among parents of children aged 7 to 15 years.
Four important business support:
- Flexible working hours enable parents and caregivers to balance work commitments and childcare responsibilities. This allows them to spend quality time with children. Remote working (where possible) allows you to manage work tasks at home. This reduces the stress and time spent commuting, while allowing more family time.
- Businesses can also offer special policies for summer vacations, such as paid time off. It allows parents to enjoy time with their children without having to worry about finances.
- Working parents can benefit from on-site childcare or partnerships with local providers. These services provide peace of mind to parents and reduce the need for external childcare arrangements.
- These programs offer parents and caregivers valuable resources, such as parenting workshops and educational materials. They also provide counselling services. These programs help families to navigate the challenges that come with summer holidays, and provide them with the support they require.
Businesses can create a work environment that is family-friendly and respects the importance of a work-life-balance by implementing these support measures.
Practical support: beyond policy
By creating a space for dialogue and providing targeted resources, you can have a positive impact on your business without straining the operations.
- Empathy in Action
Encourage line managers to reach out to working parents. This can make a big difference. These conversations do not need to be formal. Just a simple acknowledgment of the emotional burden of exam season will help employees feel supported. - Flexibility where it Matters
If it is possible, flexible working hours, the opportunity to work from home, or even a full day of leave on results day, can help parents be there for their children. This small gesture has a huge impact on employee loyalty and morale. - Leading By Example
It normalises the conversation when senior leaders talk about their experiences. This shows that the organization understands and respects the reality of family life.
The Business Case
Supporting employees who face family challenges is not just compassionate, but also commercially viable. Reducing absenteeism and improving morale are tangible benefits of family-friendly policies.
Benefits include:
- Mental health and wellbeing of employees can be improved.
- Stronger organisational culture
- Enhancing inclusion and belonging
- Talent attraction and retention is improved
Supporting parents and caregivers during summer holidays improves the well-being of employees, but also increases morale and productivity. These outcomes are not only desirable, but essential in a competitive labor market.
Final Thoughts
HR professionals tend to focus on the major moments of the employee’s lifecycle. It’s not the big moments in the employee lifecycle that matter. It’s often the small, everyday challenges.
HR can create resilient and responsive workplaces by recognising both the pressures that working parents face, as well as the pressures on the organisation to which they are employed. Supporting your employees during these times can result in long-term loyalty, and improve performance.
We enable everyone to perform at their highest level. Find out how Work+Family Solutions can help you and your employees.
