How To Support Employees Becoming New Parents

Supporting New Parents at Work

It’s important for employers to support their employees no matter what’s going on in their lives, but when major life changes arise, it’s even more important to show workers you’re on their side.

Becoming a new parent is one of the biggest life changes a person can go through. And right now, there’s an increase in birthrates that may have ties to the pandemic. That means that more of your employees may be having babies than in the past.

Great employers are supportive of parents to help them ease into this phase of life. Here’s how you can lend a hand when it’s needed most.

Offer Solid Maternity and Paternity Leave

One of the most obvious and impactful ways to show your support for new parents is to offer maternity and paternity leave. New mothers should be able to take plenty of time to recover, and both parents need time to bond with their little one (or ones!) before returning to work.

Offering paid leave means that parents can get used to their new role and establish routines before heading back to the office. Plus, when employees know they have solid parental leave options, they’re more likely to stay working for your company.

Provide Resource Groups for Employees

It’s a great idea to create a space for team members who are new parents where they can come together to talk, relate to one another, and feel understood. This also creates a space where parents can ask each other questions and get help and support when they need it most. (Plus, these groups are the perfect opportunity for handing out the custom gifts for new parents that you ordered.)

Give Access to Mental Health Services

Remember, while babies most definitely bring joy, being a new parent can also be mentally and emotionally taxing. Many parents need support but don’t know where to turn.

You can help them through this transition by providing information about the counseling and resources that are available to them. Even better is if you can set them up with an HR appointment so they can figure out which of those options are covered by insurance.

Create An Easy Transition

Parents returning from leave may have a tough time with the transition of heading back to work. You can make this easier in a number of ways:

Give them the option of a hybrid workweek. For example, maybe they head into the office for two days and then work from home the rest of the week.
Let them know they can adjust their hours if needed. Flexible hours can help with everything from recuperation for the new mom to juggling childcare schedules.
Be careful of over-scheduling meetings, especially when your team is in different time zones. Limit meetings when possible and try to schedule them during times that are convenient for everyone. Also, recording meetings is a good way to get that information across to new parents who couldn’t be there.

In general, the more flexibility you provide for new parents returning to work, the easier it will be for them.

Strengthen Your Employee Family Benefits

Here are some family benefits that you may want to offer or improve:

Access to counseling services
Childcare assistance
Family support groups
Financial planning services
Flexible working arrangements
Health and wellness programs specifically for prenatal and postnatal care
Lactation rooms for nursing mothers
Paid parental leave for both parents or parents who are adopting
Return-to-work programs to ease the transition

Offering several different options for families lets them choose what works for them so they can better balance out work and life.

Logo-Branded Gifts for New Parents

Looking for the best corporate gifts for new parents? Here are some of our faves!

Bundle of Joy MerchBox

The Bundle of Joy MerchBox is packed with travel-ready baby necessities, including the following items:

You can also customize this MerchBox by swapping out any products with others you think are a better fit.

Logo-Printed Sugar Paper Pale Pink Baby Book

One of the most classic corporate gifts for employees having children is a journal where parents can record their thoughts and experiences. This pale pink custom baby book includes storage pockets for stashing small keepsakes, too.

Logo-Embroidered Grey Elephant Baby Blanket

How adorable is this logo-embroidered baby blanket featuring a friendly elephant?! The blanket material is super soft, with a smooth trim and, of course, a pal right at the top. You can even add your embroidered brand logo in the corner.

Custom Gemline Charcoal Heather Reagan Baby Bottle Cooler

For parents on the go, this custom baby bottle cooler makes excellent custom gifts for new parents. The milk will stay at the right temperature, and the bag can be attached to a stroller for easy carrying. It has room for two bottles.

Sugar Paper White Monthly Milestone Cards

Help parents keep everyone up to date with the new addition to the family with these milestone cards. Every month, parents can put their little one next to the correct card and take a picture. To show that you’re among companies supporting new parent employees, add your custom logo to them, too.

Contact us at Merchology

Ready to order logo-branded gifts for new parents? Contact us today! We have the best-loved brands and custom gifts to show new parents your company's support as they enter a new phase of life.