Back to school

How can you help your employees during the back to school season?

If you’ve been inside of a store recently, you’ve probably noticed displays of shiny, new school supplies. Yep, it’s almost time to go back to school – kids, teenagers, and adults as well. My plan for August is to review some legislation that all leaders and HR professionals should know. This information may be a review for you, or you may learn something new. However, before we begin, I’d like to encourage you to think about your employees and how you can help them during this season.

How many of your employees have children in school? Are any of your employees responsible for their grandchildren? I suspect they are starting to feel some pressure. They need to shop for school supplies, new clothes, shoes, and backpacks. They are making sure children are up to date on their shots and sports physicals. They are receiving emails from school about the forms that must be completed before school even starts.

There may be some anxiety about the school year because of a new COVID variant. Will students need to wear masks? Will some school days involve remote learning? How will this impact their children physically, emotionally, and educationally? The list of questions could go on and on.

Whether you have a few employees or a few hundred, you should think about possible situations they will experience during the school year. Now is a great time to talk with your leadership team and brainstorm how to retain your employees. Can employees work from home? Could you offer flexible schedules? Would you consider hiring a tutor to help children after school in the office or on remote learning days? Do you offer an Employee Assistance Plan?

It would be best if you also took this time to communicate with your employees. You could give them the contact information for your EAP. Many providers have it on a magnet so employees can hang it on their refrigerators. Let your team know that you appreciate how they try to balance work and family responsibilities and that you’re working on ways to give them additional support. Remind them to talk with you about any challenges they have with schedules so that you can find a solution together. When employees realize they aren’t alone, their anxiety decreases, and they feel more optimistic. These positive feelings lead to better job performance, satisfaction, and retention.

Finally, you may want to review the list of school supplies that children need in your area. Your organization can buy some and offer them to your employees. Or employees can have some fun shopping for supplies together and donating them to local schools or organizations that support children.

You are a leader in your organization, and you can have a positive impact on your community. Please don’t miss this opportunity to be a blessing to others!