Rotherham and Barnsley businesses should be doing more to support working parents

Business owners in Rotherham and Barnsley are being called on to offer better support to working parents through maternity, returning to work, and even pregnancy loss.

Attitudes are changing towards employing parents, which is fortunate, as more parents than ever are heading back to the workplace thanks to the rising cost of living.

And parents can be the great pool of skills and expertise that employers are looking for at the moment.

But businesses need to focus on creating a more family-friendly company culture to attract and retain this talent.

Laura Reilly owns and runs Taurus HR Solutions. She said, “Parents have a wealth of skills and experience, yes, but because they’re parents, they often have additional skills like great listening, patience, and a fresh perspective.

“Smart business owners should be trying to attract this type of employee to create a more engaged, loyal, productive workforce.

“But they’ll only do this if they’re offering the right support and environment to parents, because their needs differ.”

Laura suggests that employers should understand the different types of leave and benefits that working parents may be entitled to.

She said: “Making parents aware of their entitlements is a good starting place, but offering enhanced packages could make a huge difference.

“Money’s tight for everyone right now, so if that’s not feasible, offering more flexibility can work just as well, as can providing additional benefits like help with childcare.

“When employers demonstrate loyalty to employees, they get the same in return, so boosting benefits and flexibility for working parents can be a really good move to help business productivity and growth.”

She added, “The first step is to make all the right considerations. Speaking to an HR expert can provide all the information you need.”

For a short time, Laura is offering local business owners a free 15 minute phone consultation to help employers support working parents.

To book yours, simply visit www.taurushr.co.uk

Taurus HR Solutions outsources a full range of HR services to local businesses.