There are 478M single parents worldwide. 86% single parents are mums.

Who is a single parent?
A single parent is someone who raises a child or children on their own, without a spouse or partner.

The main causes are separation or divorce due to a relationship breakdown, widowed due to unfortunate death, and self selection through, IVF or surrogacy.

Single Parents reach the peak of their fields:
Examples include:
– Grace Hopper, pioneer computer scientist
– Adele, Singer-Songwriter sensation
– Zaha Hadid, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize
– Marie Curie, chemist who discovered two elements in the periodic table
– Vera Wang, world renowned designer
– Madonna, pop star

They also raise extraordinary world shaping children:
Examples include:
– Malala Yousafzai
– Malcolm Gladwell
– Both: Barack & Michelle Obama
– Christiano Ronaldo
– Oprah Winfrey
– Elton John

However, a single mother is more than twice as likely to be unemployed as married parents.

The unemployment rate in the United States of single parents is 6.4%. This is significantly higher than the national average of 3.8%. The unemployment rate for single mothers is even higher at 8.1%.

1. Financial challenges
Problem: Single parents raise a family on a single income
Solution: Overcoming this may involve providing financial assistance, flexible work hours, or affordable childcare options.

2. Work-life balance
Problem: Work and parenting schedule may coincide
Solution: Encouraging work-life balance through flexible scheduling, remote work options, and supportive work policies.

3. Stereotypes and biases
Examples:
– Stereotype as to why they are single. People may assume that you’ve done something wrong.
– Some may think that you cannot be in a leadership role.
– Some may think that you won’t be available or reliable.
– Some may think that you won’t be as skilled.
Solution: Never assume. Replace stereotypes with education, workshops, and training.

Skills or virtues that single parents likely develop as a result of their care duties:
– Time Management
– Problem Solving
– Patience
– Empathy
– Multitasking
– Resilience

Best practices for an Inclusive Interview:

Offer options for interview scheduling to accommodate their parenting responsibilities – leverage online interviews.

Avoid discriminatory questions related to their parental status.
NO questions should be asked about that in any way.

Conduct skills based interviews to evaluate candidates fairly rather than make any assumptions about their parenting abilities.

Ask candidates about accommodations that may be required to the interview schedule before work, during lunch, or after work.

Consider Offering
– Flexible work hours or remote work options.
– Childcare facilities that are on-site or nearby.
– Allowances or reduction in cost for childcare.
– Parental leave or time-off policies that are supportive and understanding of their responsibilities.

Be proactive! Do you need to do anything to prep the team before they start?

Involve their colleagues. Ensure they are aware of the days that they need flexibility. Also, support them with not booking in meetings or calls last minute before the school run.

Plan ahead. They may need more time to be able to attend events, workshops, training days or social gatherings.

Best practices for communication:

Be organized! Avoid late or last-minute meetings or deadlines to allow for adequate planning and childcare arrangements.

Avoid a Bro Culture. Cultivate an inclusive and respectful work culture that avoids’ bro culture’ or exclusionary behaviours.

Use Remote Friendly Tools. Utilize digital communication tools to facilitate flexibility and remote collaboration.

With Generosity!

Since single parents may have tougher financial burdens and time constraints, if you lay off someone be generous with the compensation package and with the lead time you give.

Besides that, it’s just like anyone else:
– Provide constructive feedback on areas for improvement
– Offer resources for personal or professional development
– Show empathy, acknowledging the challenges they may face.
– Offer alternative opportunities or referrals when possible.

Here are just some of the tax breaks that are available to employers:

In the United States, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) can provide up to $9,600 in tax breaks for each single mother who is hired.

In Canada, the Canada Job Grant can provide up to $2,000 in funding for each single mother who is hired.

In the United Kingdom, the Kickstart Scheme can provide up to £3,000 in funding for each single mother who is hired.