Ask any parent and they’ll say the same thing; as amazing and rewarding as it is to have children, parenting is messy, stressful work. But it’s also not their only form of work, given that in 65% of U.S. families, both parents are employed—whether it’s out of necessity or passion for what they do.
Between childrearing and working, parents are often left with little time for themselves, especially when kids head back to school in the fall. And while this lack of personal time can lead to exhaustion at home and in the office, it’s not the only thing causing parental burnout.
This answer is multifaceted, but perhaps unsurprisingly, parents’ top concern is: their children.
However, it might not be in an expected way.
In a 2022 Calm Business report, the rates of kids experiencing heightened anxiety or depression skyrocketed to 31%—and even higher for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth. At the same time, about half of all mothers and a third of all fathers reported thinking about their children’s mental health constantly while at work, impacting their productivity.
But even if parents aren’t feeling anxious about their families, they’re likely facing chronic stress in other aspects of their lives.
Just like typical employee burnout can impact an individual’s personal life, parental burnout can have severe consequences on an employee’s life and experience at work.
The first and clearest effects of chronic parental stress are the mental health issues that come with it. From brain fog and emotional exhaustion to depression and anxiety, 64% of working parents struggle with their mental health—91% of whom agree they’re less productive as a result.
In addition to their individual stress and burnout, parental employees are also tasked with juggling family responsibilities as well. For instance, Calm Business found that between a quarter and one-third of parents have missed (or are interrupted during) work days to tend to their children’s mental health, adding to their already heightened personal and work-related stress levels.
All of this overwhelming stress inevitably bleeds into the workplace where it can negatively impact not only performance but also motivation, job satisfaction, and of course, holistic wellbeing. Multiply this burnout across each exhausted parent in the workplace, and it’s easy to see how it can start to have serious consequences for company culture and overall wellbeing.
Unfortunately, this type of burnout can also be the most elusive. Even if an employer is also a working parent, they might not be able to spot the same symptoms in their staff.
While the symptoms listed above are solid indicators of parental stress and burnout, they’re not always on full display in the workplace.
For instance, an employee may recognize they’re feeling irritable or frustrated on the job, but may hold their tongue to avoid conflict or judgment. To detect the warning signs of parental burnout, employers need to pay attention to more subtle cues, such as:
Of course, employers often only notice these burnout symptoms once a working parent has already started showing signs of chronic stress. Here are some more proactive steps managers can take to spot the sparks that could ignite parental burnout:
These steps are a great start, but to truly transform the workplace into an environment fit for the modern parent, employers will need to develop a more strategic plan.
At WellRight, our corporate wellbeing experts are here to help transform workplaces using a holistic wellbeing approach. Tailored to businesses and employees, our purpose-driven initiatives address each aspect of a person’s overall health and wellbeing for a well-rounded approach to prevent parental burnout.
Reach out today to learn more.