We’ve all heard the term “helicopter parent” bandied about over the years. Typically, it summons visions of overly involved parents calling college professors to complain about the “D” their child received on a test or using their money and influence to pave their children’s paths to success. 2019 brings us the next-level term that replaces helicopter parents: intensive parenting.

Intensive parenting involves a round-the-clock devotion of attention and resources to children’s free time, emotions and behaviors. It’s a more hands-on approach of constantly teaching and monitoring children, focuses on feelings, and involves lots of extracurricular activities.

Parents in the United States are investing more time, attention, and money into raising their children than was the norm several decades ago. Interestingly, this parenting style isn’t restricted to only the upper-class. Whether they’re are wealthy or financially struggling, married or single, male or female, 75% of parents say they favor the intensive parenting style, according to a study conducted by Cornell University post-doctoral fellow Patrick Ishizuka.

 

Workplace Impacts

Because of this significant rise in extracurricular activities, parents are demanding more flexible work schedules to accommodate their children’s schedules. It’s important for employers to understand that some parents will forgo promotion opportunities or manage on a reduced income in order to have the flexibility to take their children to music lessons, sporting events, or other activities. The demands of intensive parenting, however, often cut into sleep, time alone with their partners and friends, leisure time, and housework. The result? Anxiety, depression and stress.

It’s more important than ever for employers to understand the concerns of employees and job candidates in terms of their work/life balance and consider what impacts that can have on hiring, retention and training policies. It’s also worth taking the time to examine leave and paid time off policies to help ensure that they meet the demands of today’s worker. Having a flexible PTO policy is attractive to job seekers and can get top talent through the door.

EANNC can be your partner to help determine best policies for managing these challenges with programs including:

• Employee satisfaction surveys to help identify and understand issues/concerns
• Educational training for HR, employees and supervisors
• Seminars, online resources, collaboration programs to pair with your existing wellness and worklife campaigns

While consulting with your EAP should be the first-line step when it comes to mental health in the workplace, we know there is a lot of other information available online. We’ve gathered a collection of resources that can be of value to HR managers and small business owners as they work to ensure their employees stay healthy and happy.

Cost Calculators

Depression Cost Calculator. Depression affects more than 16 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability worldwide, costing the U.S. economy $210.5 billion per year in absenteeism, reduced productivity and medical costs. How much is it costing your company?

 

Alcohol Cost Calculator. Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the United States: over 8% of employed adult workers and almost 11% of adults with Medicaid or no health insurance either abuse or are dependent on alcohol. Use this calculator to help estimate the human and economic consequences of alcohol problems in your company.

 

Substance Abuse Cost Calculator. Approximately 15% of Americans 12 years or older have used illegal drugs in the past year and approximately 6 million have used prescription pain medications non-medically. Substance use disorders cost the nation an estimated $276 billion a year.

 

ADA Accommodation Information  

 

• Depression

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• General Anxiety Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)

 

 

Other Resources

 

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Workplace Mental Health Resources. Includes case studies and strategy tips.
• State Agencies Worksite Health Information and Tools. Guidance and tools from states’ health departments.
• How to Create a Workplace that Supports Mental Health. Forbes magazine article with lots of tips and ideas.
• Mental Health in Tech. Downloadable, pay-as-you-like guidelines specifically for employers and HR in the technology sector.
• IMAlive. Mental health crisis support via instant messaging system.
• Crisis Text Line. Mental health crisis support via text messaging.