In helping to support families businesses can play a critical role. However, currently few employers have any formal policies in place to accommodate and support employees who are going through divorce or separation. Staff and their families, as well as businesses suffer as a result.
Employee performance is impacted owing to family breakdown, as a new survey from the Positive Parenting Alliance shows. More than 90% of respondents said that their work performance was impacted when they went through a divorce, and 95% reported that their mental health at work suffered.
Additionally, more than 70% admitted that they were less efficient at work and over 40% felt they had to take time off work as a result of their separation. Over 10% stopped work altogether.
The Positive Parenting Alliance HR initiative
We’re calling for businesses and HR leaders to better support their employees who are going through separation by implementing a number of HR initiatives.
Businesses signing up to this new initiative will be provided with support guides from the Alliance for their employees and line managers.
To sign your organisation up to the initiative, all you need to do is to recognise separation as a ‘life event’ in your HR policy and make our support guides accessible to your employees.
The 4 Changes
Life Event Recognition
Recognising separation as a ‘life event’ in HR policy so that those experiencing separation feel recognised and realise that they can access support.
Flexible Working
Ensuring parents going through a separation have access to flexible working to enable them to manage school and childcare pick-ups and drop offs whilst they reconfigure their family setups.
Emotional Support
Giving employees access to, and pointing them towards, emotional counselling during this period.
Signposting Support Services
Signposting and access to separation support services so that parents can have the guidance and support that they need to separate in the most compassionate and child-focussed way.
Backed by Major Employers
We are delighted that these major employers have signed up to the Positive Parenting Alliance HR initiative, recognising separation as a life event in their HR policies.
