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The Shape of Work: AI x HR Playbook 2024 | August Edition is a one-of-a-kind event exclusively tailored for HR professionals. AI is reshaping HR and paving the way to a new future of work. We don't sit back and wait for the future—we get ready and lead it.

Join the conference to be part of the revolution, more details coming soon! 

📅 On: August 21st, 2024
🕜 At: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Business Case for Supporting Working Parents

Supporting working parents isn't just a compassionate move—it's a smart business strategy. Despite this, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates only 23% of workers receive paid family leave. AND only a mere 9% of the largest U.S. companies currently offer parity of 12 weeks or more to both caregivers, according to a recent JUST Capital report. 🤯

Let’s consider Alex and John, dedicated parents of two young children. Their day starts at 6 AM, juggling breakfast and school preparations. By 8 AM, they’ve already answered a few work emails and prepped for the day’s meetings. Suddenly, they get a call from the school nurse: their youngest has a fever and needs to be picked up immediately. 👶

Alex and John's carefully planned day spirals into chaos. They have to inform their managers, rearrange meetings, and somehow stay productive while caring for their sick child. 😣

This scenario is all too common for working parents, highlighting the need for better support systems. 🤝

Working parents have to juggle a multitude of responsibilities, and children can bring unpredictable challenges. They also face financial pressures due to skyrocketing childcare costs. 💰

Combine these with working full-time and challenges that come with it - it cannot be a shocker that working parents report higher levels of burnout, anxiety, and depression compared to their non-parent peers. 😰

5️⃣ ways to better support working parents

▶️ A staggering 80% of working parents say that autonomy and flexibility are the most important factors when job hunting. 

▶️ Give them the option to work remotely or adopt a hybrid work model. If your company has an RTO mandate, consider this option at least for a limited period of time. 

▶️ Offer a generous paid family or parental leave. (more on this below)

▶️ Incorporate childcare benefits into your benefits package. According to Forbes, Over three million children are likely to lose daycare spots as the federal childcare subsidy expires on September 30 - leading workers, primarily mothers, to cut their working hours or quit their jobs entirely to care for their children.

▶️ Ask employees how you can support them better.

The Case for Paid Parental Leave 📝

64% of Americans agree that companies should offer a minimum of 12 weeks of paid parental leave to foster gender equity. Research also suggests that paid parental leave helps companies attract talent, increase retention rates, and improve employee performance. 

🟢 Consider this: child care issues cost businesses an astounding $13 billion annually due to lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover. (now your ears might be perking up, eh?) 

🔴 On the flip side, companies that invest in family-friendly policies see a return of $4 for every $1 spent. It's clear that supporting working parents not only benefits families but is also good for business.

“Work shouldn’t dominate life—it should fit into it.” Companies like HPE are setting a precedent with their family-friendly policies, demonstrating that supporting working parents leads to a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce. As HR professionals, it's crucial to advocate for policies that balance work and life, not just for the benefit of employees, but for the overall health of the business.

Meet Your Fellow HRs | Come Say Hi! 👋

Join the AI x HR community and start engaging with like-minded professionals. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Click on the link to join [Join the Community]

2. Leave an introduction in the #introduce-yourself channel

3. Include your LinkedIn profile and share why you joined the community

4. Share the latest #AItrend with other members and start a conversation!
   

We can’t wait to meet you! 🌟

HR stories, experiences and frustrations 📝 

Share Your HR Stories:

We'd love to hear your stories and experiences! Have you ever had to deal with a unique or unusual leave request? How did you handle it? Click here to share some fun (or challenging) HR moments and we’ll ask our readers their take on it! 😅

Today’s HR Reads for You 📚️ 

1. ⏰ Remember the wake up and hustle days? An 'anti-hustle' culture drives success at The Honey Pot

2. 🤖 The irony is real: 77% of workers say AI tools have decreased their productivity

3. 🌈 On DEIB: Why employers can no longer ignore 'invisible' disabilities

That’s a wrap for today!

Got any additional feedback for me? Let me know! 👇️