Working parents, including accountants with tight deadlines, face challenges when caring for sick children or aging parents. Understanding the rising risks of illness exposure and the shortage of childcare workers adds to the pressure on caregivers. To manage these responsibilities effectively, accounting firm leaders emphasize the importance of a supportive company culture and individual actions.
Creating a Supportive Culture
Accounting firms offer benefits like flexible work schedules, paid time off, and short-term disability benefits to assist employees with caregiving duties. However, fostering a supportive culture is crucial. Firm leaders ensure that supervisors and managers understand the need for employees to work from home or be unavailable due to caregiving responsibilities. This culture promotes empathy and support among team members during times of need.
Prepare for Absences
When a critical team member is unavailable, cross-training staff members can ensure that others can fill in. This approach prevents the team from being overwhelmed by one person’s absence. It’s essential to make sure that client decision-makers are familiar with multiple members of the engagement team, ensuring smooth continuity of work.
Finding Balance
Accounting professionals can balance their obligations by scheduling work activities around the needs of their children or family members. Communicating availability and setting personal alarms can help stay on track with both work and personal tasks. Some professionals adjust their work hours to accommodate caregiving responsibilities, such as working in the evening when a partner can help with childcare. Flexibility and effective time management are key to finding a balance between work and caregiving duties.
Taking Advantage of Flexibility
Allowing employees to attend to personal matters, such as doctor appointments for their children, and making up the work hours later in the week or taking paid time off, fosters a flexible work environment. Providing an adequate amount of paid time off ensures employees can manage their caregiving responsibilities effectively.
Plan Ahead and Set Expectations
To avoid last-minute work conflicts, it is helpful to allocate extra time for completing tasks and communicating realistic timelines with clients and colleagues. This proactive approach allows for adjustments when personal obligations arise, ensuring quality work delivery.
Accountants can navigate the challenges of balancing work and caregiving by fostering a supportive company culture, cross-training team members, and effectively managing their time. With flexibility, open communication, and proper planning, professionals can meet both their work obligations and family needs, ensuring a harmonious balance between their professional and personal lives.
How firms can support employees with sick kids – Journal of Accountancy
