Constantly solving personal and strategic challenges for companies, Human Resources (HR) professionals who are also parents have a unique set of challenges, no matter what age their children are.
Here are some common issues that parents who work in Human Resources (HR) often face when it comes to child care, and how hosting an au pair can help.
1. Emotional Fatigue
Problem: Being a Human Resources professional means having to interact with and address the needs of every employee on staff, which can be emotionally draining. It may be so much so that you might worry you don’t have enough emotional bandwidth at the end of the day to address your child’s own needs.
Au Pair Solution: Hosting an au pair means you’ll have flexible, live-in assistance for up to 45 hours per week and up to 10 hours per day. You and your au pair can create a customized child care schedule that works best for your needs as a Human Resources professional and is built around what your work week might look like.
2. High Stress Levels
Problem: Given the uncertain nature of the economy, there are times when Human Resources professionals are tasked with extremely stressful duties. In such times, it can be difficult to balance your responsibilities to your company and those to your children, causing an increase in stress.
Au Pair Solution: If you’re going through a particularly high-stress time at work or are feeling the pressure of being everywhere all at once, hosting an au pair can ease that burden. You’ll have the presence of another adult in your home who can act as a mentor for your child or children.
3. Limited Flexibility
Problem: Though work culture has changed a bit since 2020, as a Human Resources professional, you’re likely expected to set an example when it comes to in-office or remote work policies. This can make it challenging to accommodate your child’s needs and school schedules.
Au Pair Solution: Worried about your child or children having supervision while you’re working or need to be in the office? Don’t be! Because your au pair lives with you and has a customizable schedule, they’ll be able to assist with things like afterschool care, sick days, and homework help. They also can assist with driving to-and-from activities, school, and more.
4. Work-Life Balance
Problem: Balancing your work life and your personal life is challenging for every profession, but due to the high number of calls and meetings, Human Resources professionals may have a harder time doing this. How can you expect to be present for your kids’ school events and activities when work is in your pocket at all times and is never truly finished?
Au Pair Solution: When you can’t be at your child’s event or activity in person, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that another supportive family member, like your au pair, can be there to provide support.
5. Maternity and Paternity Leave
Problem: Though you are likely to have had a hand in setting the maternity and paternity leave policies for your company, that doesn’t make returning to work after your own leave is up any easier for you.
Au Pair Solution: Going back to work is not only emotionally difficult for parents, but also, it’s hard to get back into a normal schedule. Your au pair can help you in both areas, working with you to make sure you return to working at your own pace. Did you know Au Pair in America offers Infant Qualified au pairs? These au pairs who are able to care for children younger than two years old have a minimum of 200 hours of documented experience with children under the age of two.
6. Financial Pressures
Problem: While you may have one of the biggest workloads in the company, as a Human Resources professional, you’re likely not receiving the same pay as the CEO — and child care is increasingly expensive.
Au Pair Solution: Au pairs offer tremendous value as a parent. Not only can it be a cost-effective solution for families (with Au Pair in America, the cost to host an au pair is per family, not per child), you and your children get the added value of learning about your au pair’s culture!
Being the emotional rock of your company as a Human Resources professional with a child at home can be overwhelming, but child care assistance doesn’t have to be.
If you are Human Resources professional who is also a parent, we know you have a lot on your plate — everything from hirings, firings, and strategically situating your company and its employees. To do all that with a child at home can all feel like a bit much. That’s why we highly recommend hosting an au pair. Balancing the demands of employees at work with your personal commitment to your children is an ongoing journey, but the flexibility and dependability of live-in child care can help.
