Parenting can be a source of great joy, but between managing schedules, caring for sick kids, and being responsible for the growth and development of another human being, it's also a full-time job – and then some. And for the majority of families, it's a role parents are fulfilling in addition to a full-time job. While most parents have a positive attitude about their parenting duties, employers can lighten that load and support this demographic of their population by acknowledging how much work it actually is, and providing supportive policies and benefits.

Current data shows that, among married couples with children, 97.4% have at least one employed parent and 65% have two working parents. That translates to a large demographic for many organizations, and it's important to consider how parenting duties can impact an employee's work life. For example, working parents have to manage the logistical pressures of getting kids to appointments and staying home when kids are sick or school is closed, in addition to the financial pressures of skyrocketing child care costs. Add in the uncertainty of performing a role for which there is precious little training or preparation, and it makes sense that working parents report higher levels of burnout, anxiety, and depression than their non-parent peers.

For employed single parents, who account for approximately 32% of the more than 33 million U.S. households with children under 18, the stress may be even higher. Without a second parent in the household to share duties, these parents are solely responsible for the logistical and financial pressures faced by working parents, including all aspects of child care and household management on their own. This may magnify the stresses other parents experience.