Supporting Working Parents: How Employers Can Help Staff Manage Childcare Over Summer

Summer should be a time for rest, sunshine and slowing down – but for many working parents, summer holidays can unleash issues around childcare that don’t have a simple solution. 

With schools closed for nearly two months, many employees are faced with a familiar balancing act: work deadlines on one hand, childcare duties on the other. For businesses, this period can bring increased leave requests, understaffed teams, and rising stress levels across departments. 

As an employer, you have a vital role to play in helping your people navigate this time of year. By offering clarity, flexibility and compassion – and by planning ahead – you can keep your business running smoothly while supporting your employees in the way they need most. 

We’ve pulled together this practical guide to help you manage the summer season with confidence and care. 

See also: Annual Leave Entitlements in Ireland | A Guide for Employers 

Understand the Leave Options Available to Your People 

Before you can support employees properly, you need to understand what they’re legally entitled to. Ireland has a number of statutory and discretionary leave options that parents can draw upon – and each comes with its own rules and timelines. 

Here’s a breakdown of what’s available: 

 

Encourage Early and Structured Leave Planning 

The best way to avoid summer disruption is to plan early and encourage your teams to do the same. 

Proactive leave management helps you avoid team shortages, ensure adequate cover, and reduce last-minute stress. Here’s how to lead the way: 

What to do: 

• Communicate early – Issue a reminder in late spring about summer leave planning to give your team time to make plans with their families. 
• Request advance notice – Ask employees to submit their planned leave by a specific date. 
• Balance team needs – Coordinate overlapping leave to ensure business continuity. 
• Support managers – Provide tools and training so line managers can plan with confidence. 

Related Blog: Sun, Fun, and Payroll Runs: HR’s Guide to Managing Summer Holidays in Ireland | SD Worx 

Offer Flexibility – Within Reason 

Summer doesn’t always go to plan.  While not every employee request can be accommodated, offering some flexibility can go a long way in helping employees stay productive and present. 

Consider: 

• Temporary hybrid working – Allow home-based days where roles permit it. 
• Adjusted hours – Shifted start/finish times to suit childcare arrangements. 
• Job-sharing or split shifts – Particularly helpful for frontline roles or SMES. 
• Time-off in lieu (TOIL) – Let employees accrue flexitime in advance.

Train Your Managers to Respond With Empathy and Knowledge 

Line managers are often the first point of contact when employees are struggling with work/life balance. Equip them to be both empathetic and informed when it comes to parental leave. 

Action Steps: 

• Provide training on statutory entitlements and internal leave policies. 
• Encourage a culture of listening and understanding, not just rule enforcement. 
• Ensure managers understand when they can and cannot say no to a request. 
• Set in place a procedure for evaluating leave requests with appropriate deadlines for staff and line managers to keep the process clear and transparent. 
• Watch for signs of burnout and escalate concerns early. 

This support needs to go beyond policies – it’s about building a culture where parents feel seen and supported. 

Stay Compliant – But Also Compassionate 

Legal compliance is non-negotiable. But the way you approach these conversations can make a lasting difference. 

Remember: 

• Parental Leave and Parents’ Leave are legal rights. 
• Employees must be reinstated in their role after leave. 
• Requests for leave should be processed fairly and consistently. 
• Documentation and record-keeping must be up-to-date and accurate. 

Related Update: Important Updates to Parents Leave in Ireland for Employers

Make It Easy: Use HR Software to Manage Leave with Confidence 

Managing multiple types of leave across teams, especially during the busy summer months, can quickly become overwhelming without the right systems. That’s where SD Worx HR Software comes in. 

Our all-in-one HR and payroll platform allows you to: 

• Track all leave types, including parental, parent’s, force majeure, and unpaid leave. 
• Automate approvals and flag conflicts or overlapping absences. 
• Give employees self-service access to check balances and submit requests. 
• Equip managers with real-time visibility into team availability. 
• Ensure you stay compliant with Irish labour laws, with audit trails and reporting built in. 

Be the Employer Who Makes Summer Easier 

The summer months can be challenging – but they’re also a chance to show your people that you’ve got their back and can foster a supportive environment, where they feel confident and secure in their roles. By supporting working parents with clarity, flexibility, and practical tools, you don’t just help them survive the summer. You earn long-term loyalty and build a stronger, more human-centred workplace. 

Want to simplify leave management and better support your teams? Talk to SD Worx Ireland today and discover how our HR software can help your business work smarter this summer – and all year round.