12 Aug 2025

School’s out, support’s in: Why employers need to step up this summer

For some working parents the school summer holidays are a time of added stress and complications. Employers can help ease this stress.

Six (or more) weeks of sunshine and playdates - what’s not to love? For children, the summer holidays are often the highlight of the year.

However, many working parents are quietly entering panic mode. With routines turned upside down, balancing childcare with work commitments can become a real challenge. Here are some challenges working parents face during this time:

Difficulty aligning work schedules with six or more weeks of school holidays
Limited ability to take extended time off work
Pressure to keep children entertained, engaged, and cared for daily
Lack of daily structure and routine for kids
Fear of children becoming bored or spending too much time on screens
Desire to create meaningful summer experiences while balancing work
Lack of access to nearby relatives or informal childcare support
Using up valuable annual leave just to manage childcare needs
Strain on finances due to the cost of summer activities or alternative childcare arrangements
Feeling guilty for not being fully present at home or at work

In fact, the Bright Horizons Modern Family Index 2025 found that nearly 3 in 10 (29%) working parents and carers have very high stress levels, with a significant amount of this stress coming from balancing both work and family.

As an employer, you might be wondering: How does this impact my business? The answer is - significantly. When working parents are stressed, distracted, or forced to take unplanned time off due to childcare breakdowns, it directly impacts productivity, team performance, and business continuity.

According to the Modern Families Index 2025 Report, the productivity of nearly two-thirds (64%) was impacted last year by childcare breakdowns, averaging nearly 5 days in length, with 29% of working parents being forced to take short term annual leave.

Managers are often left scrambling to find last-minute cover, which can reduce team capacity and delay important projects. Over time, this kind of disruption doesn’t just affect individuals, it affects your entire organisation.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can be there for your employees through the school holiday chaos. In the next section, we’ll share some practical, people-first strategies to help your employees feel supported and valued.

Flexible working options: Allowing employees to work remotely or follow a hybrid schedule can help them balance professional responsibilities with childcare. Flexible hours, such as staggered start and end times or compressed workweeks, give parents more control over their day.
Adjusted workload and expectations: Recognising that employees with children may not have the same capacity during the summer is key. Employers can support staff by adjusting deadlines or expectations to reflect these temporary constraints and encouraging job sharing to ease the load.
Wellbeing and mental health support: Childcare stress can take a toll on mental health. Employers should ensure that staff have access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and other mental health resources.

Bright Horizons’ Work + Family Space is a digital hub that offers employees resources on juggling their personal and professional lives, parenting tips for all life stages and access to an expert.

Your support strategy needs to flex year-round

Summer brings added childcare challenges for working families - but the balancing act lasts all year. Without consistent support, the strain of managing work and home can impact both employees and employers.

Yet many organisations still overlook the ongoing demands their people face. Taking a broader, more flexible approach to support is essential for building a truly resilient workforce.

Explore the Work+Family Snapshot 2025 to see how access to Back-Up Care is making a difference for employees and why it should be a cornerstone of your workplace support strategy.

Make this summer smoother for your people - and your business.