Supporting parents and carers through periods of change and uncertainty has become an increasingly important focus for employers. Whether it’s organisational change, caring responsibilities or the annual challenge of the school summer holidays, many employees are balancing competing demands that can affect both their wellbeing and their ability to work.
The topic was recently explored at Make A Difference Media’s Leaders Lunch on supporting parents and carers through change and uncertainty, where HR and wellbeing leaders discussed how organisations can provide practical support that reflects the realities of modern family life. As the school summer holidays begin, new data from childcare platform Bubble highlights why those conversations matter.
Parents across the UK are entering one of the busiest and most expensive periods of the year, juggling six weeks without school alongside jobs that don’t stop for the summer.
New data from Bubble shows families are already preparing, requesting more than 150,000 hours of childcare across the summer holidays as parents look for flexible ways to balance work, family life and the long break from school.
Work has changed. Childcare hasn’t.
Work has changed dramatically over the past decade, but childcare hasn’t always kept pace. Holiday clubs remain an important option for many families, yet they’re often designed around full days or full weeks, making them less practical for parents working hybrid schedules, shifts, freelance roles or changing hours who simply need childcare for part of the day.
Flexible childcare is filling the gaps
Bubble’s booking data suggests babysitters and nannies are increasingly filling those gaps. Nearly four in five (79%) bookings take place on weekdays, while more than half (56%) begin around the morning commute or afternoon school run. Just 13.5% start after 6pm, suggesting flexible childcare is increasingly supporting the working day for stretched parents rather than evenings out.
Around one in six (16%) mums and dads aren’t leaving the house at all, but need an extra pair of hands while they take an important work call, catch up on sleep after a difficult night, pack for a family holiday or simply get through a particularly busy day.
Why employers should take notice
Bubble believes the way employers support parents now needs to catch up with the reality of modern family life. While many organisations have introduced wellbeing initiatives and flexible working, childcare is still rarely viewed as part of an employee benefits package. The company is calling on more employers to consider childcare support as a practical way of helping working parents manage the school holidays and remain in work.
Bubble Co-Founder and parenting expert Sarah Hesz has also shared practical tips to help families navigate the summer holidays, together with recommendations for employers on how better to support working parents through flexible childcare, stronger support networks and family-friendly workplace benefits.
Sarah Hesz, Co-Founder of Bubble, said:
“The summer holidays should be something families look forward to, but for many parents they’ve become one of the biggest pressures of the year. Families are juggling rising childcare costs, work commitments and six weeks without school, often without the support previous generations relied upon.
Modern family life has changed dramatically, but much of our childcare system hasn’t changed with it. Today, more households have two working parents, more people work shifts, freelance or outside traditional office hours, yet many childcare options still assume families work Monday to Friday, 9–5.
Parents shouldn’t have to choose between their career, their finances and their family. We need greater awareness of the support already available, but we also need employers and policymakers to recognise that modern families need modern solutions. That means more flexible childcare, stronger family-friendly workplace policies and childcare partnerships that help parents balance work and family life.”
Bubble’s top tips for parents this summer
Bubble recommends focusing on a few practical steps to make the six-week break more manageable:
- Plan ahead. Map out childcare, holiday clubs, family support and flexible working arrangements before the holidays begin.
- Check what support is available. Many parents are unaware of the help they may be entitled to, including Tax-Free Childcare, unpaid parental leave and family-friendly benefits offered by their employer.
- Protect time for yourself. Building in time to work, rest or recharge can make a significant difference during the busy summer period.
- Use childcare flexibly. Flexible childcare can help cover last-minute work commitments or simply provide parents with some much-needed breathing space.
- Don’t aim for perfection. The goal isn’t to create six weeks of flawless activities. Instead, focus on creating meaningful moments together and embracing the simple things.
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