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Work-life balance begins at work: supporting parents for a stronger workforce

As companies continue to invest in employee wellbeing, working parents are often left at the margins of these strategies. While mental health resources, flexible hours, and gym memberships are common benefits, they rarely address the daily challenges faced by employees raising young children. According to a recent McKinsey study, working parents are 1.5 times more likely to consider leaving their jobs due to a lack of support especially during the early years of parenthood or after returning from parental leave. 60% report feeling emotionally exhausted.

This is not a niche issue — parents make up a significant portion of the workforce. For employers, overlooking their needs is a risk. But for those ready to act, it is also a powerful opportunity to improve retention, engagement, and wellbeing at scale.

Beyond Policies: Childcare benefits that supports parents.

Offering flexible hours or remote options is a positive step, but it is only part of the solution. Supporting working parents goes deeper. It is about creating a workplace culture where parenthood is acknowledged, where the transition back from parental leave is actively supported, and where employees do not feel they must hide their caregiving responsibilities.

When employers provide structured, emotional, and practical support to parents, they foster an environment of trust, loyalty, and long-term engagement. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by helping employees access dependable childcare solutions.

From maternity nurses and after-school nannies to full- and part-time in-home support, having the right care in place can transform a parent’s working life. It reduces stress, boosts focus and provides the peace of mind essential for productivity and wellbeing. Investing in family support is not just compassionate — it is a strategic decision that directly impacts talent retention and long-term performance.

Fox & Cubs Agency a trusted London-based childcare and household staffing agency established in 2012, has long supported modern families by matching them with vetted, multilingual nannies, maternity nurses, and professional home staff. Today, the agency partners with forward-thinking companies seeking to enhance their employee benefits with tailored childcare solutions, helping them build resilient, family-friendly workplaces from the inside out.

Providing tools for working parents with parenting talks

Parents expect a company to understand their situation and to help them with finding a balance with their new life situation. Wellbeing corporate talks are designed to help employees navigate the everyday realities of work-life integration.

One of our most requested sessions, “Thriving, Not Just Surviving,” is led by agency Director and mother of three, Fanny Di Domenicantonio. In this talk, working parents are offered honest, practical strategies and tips for navigating the daily pressures of family and career from setting boundaries and ditching guilt, to building routines and systems that work.

The tone is warm, honest, and solution-focused, no judgment, no perfection, just real tools that work. The talk creates a space where working parents feel heard and empowered, and where companies demonstrate genuine commitment to their employees lived experience. While talks like these do not replace structural policies, they build empathy, open dialogue and offer real-life tools for reducing daily stress.

The impact for businesses

Hosting a parenting wellbeing talk, or simply connecting staff to reliable childcare guidance, sends a powerful message: “We see you, and we are here to support you.”

These small but meaningful actions:

• Strengthen employee loyalty.

• Reduce absenteeism linked to stress and family challenges.

• Foster a culture of inclusion and empathy.

• Improve retention, particularly for mid-career professionals.

• Reinforce your company’s reputation as a family-friendly employer.

Businesses that proactively provide this support are not only investing in their people’s wellbeing, but in their own long-term performance and reputation as employers of choice.

Want to know more? If your organisation is looking to elevate employee wellbeing by better supporting working parents through parenting talks, childcare consultations, or strategic partnerships, Fox & Cubs Agency would love to help.

📩 Get in touch at hello(@)foxandcubs.com

🌐 Or visit www.foxandcubs.com

Because when working parents feel supported, your whole workforce thrives.