Managing the School Holidays as a Working Parent
People

Managing the School Holidays as a Working Parent

When it comes to planning for school holidays, working parents and guardians face the huge task of making arrangements for their little people and deciding how they will go about managing the school holidays. This can be quite a stressful time, causing families to feel often guilty about not being around all of the time. […]

July 4th, 2024
*

Abby.

Founder

A search expert making key hires for over twenty years.

When it comes to planning for school holidays, working parents and guardians face the huge task of making arrangements for their little people and deciding how they will go about managing the school holidays. This can be quite a stressful time, causing families to feel often guilty about not being around all of the time.

 

While the summer break does feel like a great opportunity for families to have a rest and spend some quality time together, this doesn’t always work for those with financial and career responsibilities. Especially those where employers cannot accommodate such a long holiday.

 

With summer clubs and childminders charging £30-£60 a day, it can soon scale depending on how many children you have. For a family with two children, contemplating six weeks of childcare could be upwards of £2400 without any food costs.

 

So, how can employers support their employees, and what can working parents do to manage?

 

What can employers do?

 

Employers can offer support to their people by:

 

  • Talking to them to understand their situation
  • Remember that not everyone has a wide support network available
  • Offer full remote work to parents during the holidays
  • Allow employees to flex their hours to fit around family
  • Take any non-essential meetings out of the diary
  • Measure the success of work projects on the outcome rather than the time spent
  • Plan a bring your children to work day for a morale boost
  • Allow unpaid leave if an employee requests it

 

How can you manage as a parent?

 

Working parents can create a fun and plentiful summer whilst still doing their best work by:

 

  • Planning ahead – printing out a calendar of the whole six weeks and plotting out plans
  • Involving children in the planning so that they have lots to look forward to
  • Using childcare vouchers to pay for clubs and reduce costs
  • Scattering annual leave with half days and full days to feel more connected
  • Looking for approved local community holiday clubs
  • Considering if your family could help with a day or two?
  • Talking to local parent friends to share childcare responsibilities
  • Flexing your hours – could you try a 6-10 am and 6-9 pm schedule instead of 9-5?

 

The more we work together to support our employees, the more engaged they will become. With this comes better output, retention, and professional and personal futures for everyone.

 

 

Who We Are

Yellow Bricks hires exceptional temporary and permanent professionals for growth organisations

 

 

Connect with us

 

Want the latest people news? Join our newsletter.

 

Need to hire? Reach out for a free consultation with one of our hiring experts.

 

Looking to hire temporary staff? Click here to book a temp with us.

 

 

To find out more about how to focus on your brand, get in touch today.
Want to hear about our other articles?
Sign up to the
Yellow Bricks Newsletter.
Looking to hire your next superstar?
Let’s discuss your project.
Keen to explore our latest vacancies?
Click here.
Yellow Bricks is a female-owned and led executive search firm hiring predominately for software companies with diversity and inclusion at the heart of our offering. To learn more, click here.
LinkedInPrint
Related posts
Stood Up But Still Showing Up

Stood Up But Still Showing Up

We had a no-show this week. One out of 14 interviews. Honestly? We’ll take that. Because let’s be real, at this time of year, things start to shift. The sun’s out. Out-of-office replies are back in fashion. Diaries get a little more fluid. Summer hiring can be a testing time.. Candidates pause. Clients get quieter. […]
AI-Proof Your Career: What Great Managers Do When Technology Takes Over

AI-Proof Your Career: What Great Managers Do When Technology Takes Over

 AI-Proof Your Career: What We’re Hearing From the Top Floor We’re hearing the same story from every corner of business right now, leaders are under pressure to perform, adapt to technology, and somehow AI-proof their careers without losing the human touch. In today’s world of hybrid work and automation, every manager needs to think about […]
5 Ways of Managing Stress as a Leader

5 Ways of Managing Stress as a Leader

As a leader, your people will look to you for guidance in times of challenge and uncertainty.   Trying to manage your team as well as yourself during these times can make you vulnerable to high stress that can become chronic if not dealt with properly.   Currently, 69% of executives are considering quitting due […]
Proposed UK Employment Law Changes and How Employers Can Prepare

Proposed UK Employment Law Changes and How Employers Can Prepare

Following their election in July of this year, the new UK government has pledged to deliver “the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation”.   A key part of this commitment is the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, which is expected to be introduced by the end of October 2024. While these changes are not […]
How the Metaverse will change the Future of Work

How the Metaverse will change the Future of Work

Photo: Microsoft   Bill Gates predicts that within two or three years, virtual meetings will be taking place within the Metaverse. It is clear that changes to how we play, socialise, and work are coming sooner than we think 🎮 💬 💼 With the next decade heavily focused on its development, how will the Metaverse […]
Are You Ready for the Employment Law Overhaul?

Are You Ready for the Employment Law Overhaul?

As the Labour Party gears up to overhaul workers’ rights, UK businesses face a transformative shift in employment law. These forthcoming changes are set to redefine how companies manage their workforce and introduce new legal risks, particularly concerning employment tribunals. Here is a look at the anticipated reforms and how businesses can prepare for the […]
8 Ways to Keep a Job Search Going Over the Summer

8 Ways to Keep a Job Search Going Over the Summer

Are you seeking a new opportunity this summer? During this time of year, you will want to spend quality time with friends and family. How can you balance work and play effectively when looking for a new role? We share our top 8 tips for keeping a job search going over the summer:   Review […]
The Four-Day Work Week: Here’s the latest research

The Four-Day Work Week: Here’s the latest research

Can a 4 day week work?
C-Suite positions are rarely advertised. Here’s why and how you can win them.

C-Suite positions are rarely advertised. Here’s why and how you can win them.

Have you ever wondered why you hardly see job adverts for top-level executive positions?   It’s not just because these roles require a very specific set of skills and experience; there are several pretty good reasons behind it.   Let’s discuss and uncover how you can get onto the path to the C-Suite.   Why […]
Returning to the office – should employers be marching their employees back? 

Returning to the office – should employers be marching their employees back? 

Returning to the office? Just a few years ago, it was a luxury to work from home. A lot of bosses were sceptical, and employees faced a losing battle to get more than a few days working from home. But, since the arrival of Covid-19, it has become the standard way of working for desk-based […]

People. Culture. Growth.
Yellow Bricks
Yellow Bricks © 2025