How Your Workplace Can Make You a Better Parent
- Brian Page
- Jan 11
- 2 min read
A longitudinal study of over 370 low-wage, working-class families found that parents' work experiences directly affect their children's developmental outcomes. The study was conducted by Perry-Jenkins.
Parents with autonomy and supportive supervisors and coworkers are warmer and more engaged with their infants, leading to better reading and math skills, social skills, and fewer behavioral problems in their children.
"A vast body of research has shown that warm and responsive parenting in a child's first year of life boosts their level of attachment with their parents as well as their emotional regulation, social skills, and academic achievement."
Dr. Perry-Jenkins argues that supporting employees and making them feel respected is an investment in today's workforce and the next generation.
Click here to read the full article in the Harvard Business Review.
We believe that by supporting women (or other partners) at home, husbands can have a similar impact as employers did in this study. And the same can be said for women supporting men.
A modern household has two incomes. Strategies that set up partners for success at home with their kids don't always unfold naturally. It takes work, communication, and respect for one another's careers to create a home environment that provides children with what they need to grow and become their best selves.
Modern Husbands Podcast Episode
We hosted the author of the research and the article in the Harvard Business Review on the Modern Husbands Podcast to discuss the topic with her.
Dr. Perry-Jenkins is the author of Work Matters: How Parents’ Jobs Shape Children’s Well-Being and serves as the Department Chair of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Show Notes
0:00-2:59 Introduction
3:00-5:29 Why she decided to tackle the research project and what it is about
5:30-8:03 The research process for the project and book
8:04-11:13 Why some parents thrive and others struggle
11:14-14:26 The impact of empowering employees to work together to manage schedule
14:27-18:46 How employees can work with their bosses to create the job flexibility
18:47-22:10 The three things employers can easily do to improve the work environment
22:11-24:49 How she proved the children of parents who were treated better at work were better students
24:50-29:18 Can the same types of work stress that bleed into our patience to be a parent have the same effect on you as a spouse
29:19-31:24 What aren’t we doing more as a society for parents and kids
31:25-38:13 How the workplace impacts the division of labor at home
38:14-40:34 How some have misconstrued the results of the research
40:35-43:34 The policy challenge lawmakers face
43:35-45:03 Lessons married couples easily apply to their marriages
45:04-45:28 Conclusion
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