Benefits to help working parents survive the summer

For many working parents, summer brings more stress than sunshine. 

According to research from the 2025 Bright Horizons Modern Family Index, the seasonal shift in their children's schedules has a significant impact on parents' ability to focus at work. The survey found that 76% of working parents say their level of job focus is directly tied to how reliable their children's summer plans are. In fact, 87% reported facing disruptions or challenges while their children are home for the summer.

One in three working parents say they often have to step away from work during the day to care for their kids or leave early to pick them up from activities. Another third report feeling distracted or anxious during the workday, and are worried about what their children are doing at home, the index found. Working parents also found it difficult to manage their summer plans around available activities that don't align with a traditional work schedule.

Read more: A summer survival guide for working parents

These pressures are not going unnoticed, especially by employers. However, more than three-quarters of working parents say they wish their employer offered more support to help them organize a dependable summer routine for their children. 

"When employers offer meaningful support that helps working parents — whether by providing access to child care, back-up care, camp resources, or other benefits — they're not only relieving pressure on parents, but are fostering a more engaged, loyal and productive workforce," Stephen Kramer, CEO of Bright Horizons, said in a release. 

Ways to subsidize summer childcare

In response to these needs, many organizations are exploring ways to better support working parents during the summer months. One key approach is offering subsidized or onsite summer camps, which can provide structured and reliable daytime care that aligns with employees' work hours. In addition, back-up child care services give parents flexibility when plans change last minute or care options fall through.

Read more: 4 professionals share why workplace flexibility is so important

Another highly valued benefit is flexible scheduling, allowing employees to adjust their work hours around family obligations. Employers with remote or hybrid work policies may also ease the burden, giving parents more control over their day-to-day routine during the summer break. 

For Laura Murphy, president of Bolt PR, flexibility is a crucial part of their benefits philosophy, and one they put into overdrive during the summer. The team has Summer Fridays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and also offers a "Bolt Balance" program, which prioritizes work-life balance for everyone at the company.  

"As a working mom, the most essential employee benefit is intentional flexibility," Murphy says. "For parents like me who need extra time to step away for their child's track practice and other kid-focused events, [we offer] an additional paid hour each week for employees to do what they need, empowering them to take that time without hesitation." 

Read more: Fortune 500 HR leaders say child care is key to talent retention 

Beyond flexibility, providing monetary assistance for child care benefits year-round can further help offset the high cost of summer programs, which are often prohibitively expensive. Data from Lending Tree found that 89% of parents with kids in extracurriculars plan to spend an average of $1,453 per family on summer activity programs. 

Building better communities for working parents

When offered intentionally, support can foster a sense of community among working parents. Utilizing employee resource groups or creating social media channels for parents to share tips, camp recommendations and local care resources can help build community in and out of the workplace. 

Read more: Giving birth, then back to work: Returning to the office

Companies that take proactive steps to support working parents — especially during the chaotic summer months — stand to benefit from a more focused, appreciative, and productive workforce. 

"It's not a cost, it's actually an investment," Priya Krishnan, chief digital and transformation officer at Bright Horizons, previously shared on EBN's podcast, Perk Up. "That's certainly one of the things that we talk to employers about: When you're providing access to childcare, you are making an investment that pays off."