Flexible work could help parents balance jobs and childcare

Sir, – As a HR professional, I have witnessed many new parents return to work and struggle, physically and mentally, with the elusive “balance” between work, logistics and childcare. I wholeheartedly support the sentiments of Clare Moriarty (April 12th) and Maria Steen (April 4th).

We are being constantly reminded that AI is going to change work and life as we know it. Rather than being wary of this inevitability, it should prompt employers to think creatively and critically about the roles they require. In the process of putting this in place, they ought to embrace true flexibility.

Flexibility does not simply mean working from home. True flexibility encompasses job sharing, reduced hours, compressed hours, flexitime, contracting, fractional employment etc.

There is a huge opportunity for employers to retain and attract talent that may be lost to the confines of the 9-5 on-site model that is not compatible with the Irish childcare and education systems by reviewing their roles and becoming truly flexible. – Yours, etc,