As summer arrives, working parents face unique challenges that ripple into workplace engagement and productivity. Bright Horizons’ newly released 2025 Modern Family Index reveals how family dynamics during the warm months directly impact job performance—and signals clear opportunities for employers to step in.
Survey Outlines Key Challenges
Key survey findings show:
- 76% of working parents say their job focus is strongly linked to the reliability of children’s summer schedules.
- 42% report worsening emotional or mental strain while children are home.
- 38% face challenges when available care or activities don’t align with work hours.
- Despite these pressures, only 24% feel their employer provides adequate support—while 76% say they wish more employer backing was available.
Stephen Kramer, CEO of Bright Horizons, puts it simply: “When employers offer meaningful supports that help working parents—whether by providing access to child care, back‑up care, camp resources, or other benefits—they’re not only relieving pressure on parents, but are fostering a more engaged, loyal, and productive workforce.”
How Organizations Can Help Ease the Burden
There are a number of things that organizations, their HR leaders, front line managers and supervisors can do to minimize the stress of juggling childcare and work responsibilities.
- Create structured summer programs—like in-house camps or partnerships with care providers—to minimize day-to-day unpredictability.
- Recognize elevated strain during the summer months. Consider proactive check-ins, flexible hours, or additional mental health support during this period.
- With three-quarters of parents expressing unmet needs, simple interventions—such as care stipends or referral services—can have outsized impact.
- Link support to retention and productivity. Parental support isn’t just HR—it’s a strategic business tool. Satisfied parents are more engaged, less distracted, and more likely to stay.
Summer doesn’t have to mean a slide in performance. By weaving family support into benefits and culture, employers can turn seasonal pressure into an opportunity to strengthen loyalty, boost morale, and demonstrate that they genuinely value employees’ whole lives.
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.