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United States
'The juggle is real' is a phrase that's often bandied about with some level of irony and tongue-in-cheek humour. For thousands of working women across the UK, the long stretch of summer holidays has begun, and, with it, comes the reality of a juggle that, leaders argue, could be made less stressful today.
With recent reports that the average cost of childcare per child for the summer break has hit £943 per child, women have already begun to speak out about the challenges they are facing.
It might seem like a well-discussed topic, but, for many, the discussion is more about the issues than the solutions. And that's what needs to change - and could change fast. Sarah Hesz is CCO at Bubble Childcare, and, when we speak, Sarah has 'escaped' to a coffee shop, where she can find some time to work and make calls. We agree it's really the best example of the scenario that's playing out across the country right now.
She explains: "This issue is making the news in a way that it hasn't before. I think a lot of employers want to help their staff but don't know how to. There are ways a business can help - even acknowledging the fact that this is a stressful time for working parents. The summer holidays is a pinch point because there is not just the financial element but also the guilt. It's about finance and guilt, and employers can do something. The payback is almost immediate."
A lot of employers want to help their staff but don't know how to.
Alice Olins is founder and director of the Step Up Club, a female-focused development business. She has three children aged 11, 9 and three, and posted on LInkedIn about her day as a parent working with children. Asked about the biggest challenges during the summer holidays for staff with children, she told HR Grapevine: “Ultimately, I'd say the biggest challenge is burnout. Juggling childcare, family life and work is stressful enough when your children are happily ensconced in their educational settings; during school holidays the pressures grow exponentially. Often, there is an expectation from employers to just keep going, which can be impossible both financially and emotionally too."
