As we approach the fall, millions of American workers are waiting to see how in-person, hybrid or online learning will play out for their school-aged children. In the US, a quarter of the workforce cares for a child under 14, leaving working parents uncertain about how they will balance a career with their child’s education.
Many families depend on schools for much more than just the learning that happens within the classroom. Parents and children in vulnerable situations can access school-based services to deal with everything from food insecurity to a lack of technology access and even wellbeing resources. Patricia Raicht, Senior Vice President, National Director of Research at JLL, said, "According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 7.1 million students who received special ed aid for either physical, educational or learning disabilities." If mass school closures are once again implemented for the 2020–2021 school year, addressing these issues will be a critical component to enabling the workforce — particularly those in lower-income households with school-aged children — to return to their jobs.
There’s no doubt education policies will have an inevitable impact on business and the office market through 2021. Many working parents will be forced to stay home, leave their jobs, or reduce hours — further straining the economy and labor pool.
For employers seeking ways to support their people and maintain productivity in the midst of significant uncertainty, flexibility will be key. In this latest podcast, James Cook speaks with Raicht and fellow researcher, Christian Beaudoin, about critical strategies companies should use to retain a sizeable portion of their workforce.