As research has repeatedly demonstrated, engaged employees are more productive, and older employees and women typically demonstrate greater engagement with their employer. Many working parents fall into these categories and the family-friendly support and flexibility offered by employers really contributes to engaging them.

It's not surprising that working parents value employers who support and enable them to successfully combine work and family. Many companies have seen their post maternity return to work (and longer term retention) rates improve dramatically when they've put in place initiatives to make it easier and more attractive to return to work. Looking at the cost aspect alone, replacing senior staff members is expensive. Family-friendly working practices represent the most commercially sound way of harnessing and retaining a generation of talented people.

50% of non-manual workers in the private sector cite home/family responsibilities as a major cause of short term absence, second only to minor illnesses.  And over 90% of working parents suffer multiple childcare breakdowns in any given year. The provision of Emergency Childcare can address this issue significantly.

Working lives these days need to dovetail with many other roles and responsibilities. For working parents, these competing demands can impact on job productivity and happiness at work. Get it right and the employees you help combine career and family successfully will be the most engaged, productive and loyal members of your team.