Shannon Hernandez

Almost a decade ago, for this very blog, I wrote a post about the ups and downs of managing work and client expectations when you are a work from home parent.  It would be an understatement to say that times were different then… but, surprisingly, many of the struggles have remained the same. Now 14 and 13, my girls are no longer my little tag-a-longs, interrupting meetings because they need help dressing a Barbie, to tell a story, or because they need to go potty. They now have school, social lives, events, and commitments of their own that need to be worked into the fold.

Currently, the U.S. is in the thick of back-to-school (BTS) season. And if your employees (or you) have kiddos heading back, chances are – they could use a break.

My girls both started school this week. The two weeks leading up to school starting were intense. Tryouts, two-a-day practices, orientations, meet-the-teachers, back-to-school shopping, physicals, immunizations - getting your kids ready to go back to school can be, in itself, almost a full-time job. In fact, in one week I dedicated 32 hours to BTS. On top of my full-time work week.

Did I meet all of my work obligations, even after pulling a few all-nighters? Of course not.

Here’s the thing – I want to do those things for my kids. I want to be there for all of those moments. What parent doesn’t? It’s also important to me to fulfill wok-related obligations as well. Chances are, you and your employees are no different.

• If possible, avoid meetings first thing in the morning or end of the day to allow your employees to drop off and pick up their children. Even if your employees don’t have kids – traffic is a nightmare right now.
• Be flexible with their schedules if the nature of the work allows for it. Trust your employees to get their work done when they can.
• Ask if there is anything you can do to help. There may be nothing you can do – but just asking goes a long way.

There’s no denying that it can be demanding, stressful, and scary sending our children off to school. As employers, the number one thing you can do right now is understand that – and give your employees some grace.