By Kathy Lynn, Parenting Expert, kathy@parentingtoday.ca
Maria storms into work. She smacks her purse down on the desk and heads down the hall in search of her first cup of coffee of the day. We can tell that she’s already had a bad morning. We’ve been in her shoes and guess her mood is not going to change today.
According to recent research, how the day starts has an impact on the rest of the day. Don’t you love it when we have research to prove self-evident truths?
Studies show that the mood you bring to work sets the tone for the rest of day and interestingly, events at home or on the way to the office have a greater impact than whatever happens once we’re at work.
When a person arrives at work in a good mood it has a positive impact and it translates into a 14.3% improvement in productivity. If we can help our employees to arrive at work in a good mood, it is worth it.
One of the most common causes of bad mornings is children. Parents trying:
- to quickly wrestle two-year-old Justin into his clothing,
- to help eight-year-old Melissa find her backpack,
- agonizing as eleven-year-old Nicola just can’t decide what to wear and
- attempting to get sixteen-year-old Julian out of bed.
When the parents in your company understand basic child raising skills, it will have a short and long-term positive impact on the workplace.
Short-term is obvious. When your employees have a good and successful morning, they will arrive at work in a good mood, ready to work and you will experience that lovely 14.3% increase in productivity.
Long-term, the children who are being raised effectively will be the best employees in the future. They will know how to take responsibility, how to problem-solve, how to grow and change.
So it pays to make parenting skills training presentations with follow-up support services for the parents and grandparents an integral part of your workplace well-being program. That will aid in retention of quality employees who appreciate your recognition of their parenting role. Beyond Childcare is just such a program.
Now let’s be really clear here. The bottom-line responsibility for raising kids lies on the shoulders of the parents, but they need support, encouragement and training.
When parents are more skilled and knowledgeable about the job of parenting:
- they will be more effective both at home and at work,
- they will arrive most mornings ready to work,
- they will not be constantly distracted by worrying about their kids,
- they will have a strong handle on both jobs.
Everyone wins!
What strategies does your company use to help parents parent more effectively? What would you recommend?
