Inform Article

Should Businesses Be Required to Give “Flextime” To Parents?

08.07.2012
Posted by Leon Fooksman of yourPBC.org

It's the dream of many working parents: their employers offering them the opportunity to work from home or in non-traditional schedules, so they can spend more time with their families.

"Flextime" is often seen as a solution for parents struggling to balance work and family obligations, like doctor appointments, soccer games, and, perhaps more importantly, school functions.

The concept has gained popularity in recent years, especially among bigger companies like Walmart and Mariott, as some studies have found that work flexibility increases productivity.

But flextime is tricky, and most companies haven't embraced it just yet. Surveys show that many employers worry flextime schedules result in less face time, jealousy among co-workers, and abuse of company resources.

So, if parental involvement is essential to improving the local education system as research indicates, should businesses be required to provide parent-friendly policies like flextime for their workers?

And, do you think more working parents will devote additional time to communicating with teachers and attending important school events -- if they had more flextime in the early morning hours, during the lunch hour, or in the late afternoon hours?

Share your thoughts below.

You can also post your ideas on Twitter using the hashtag #ParentalInvolvement and on our Facebook page.

Your input is very important. We'll be sharing your comments with policy makers who are interested in school reform issues.