US Surgeon General Sounds the Alarm on Parental Stress: How Coaching Can Support Working Parents

Parenting is inherently stressful, and this stress doesn’t dissipate once employees step into the workplace. Working parents constantly juggle family and personal life demands, and even mild stress from this ongoing balancing act can impact cognitive function and overall well-being. When support is lacking, this stress is exacerbated, often leading to burnout.

In a recent advisory, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a stark warning about the increasing stress levels among parents, describing it as a significant public health issue. The advisory referenced a 2023 American Psychological Association survey, which found that 41% of parents reported being unable to function on most days due to stress, and nearly half—48%—felt completely overwhelmed by it.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

   • Overview of Parental Stress as a Public Health Concern
   • US Surgeon General’s Advisory on Parental Well-being

2. The Impact of Parental Stress

   • Statistics Highlighting the Prevalence of Parental Stress
   • Effects on Cognitive Function and Overall Well-being
   • Challenges of Balancing Work and Family Responsibilities

3. The Role of Coaching in Supporting Working Parents

   • Introduction to Coaching as a Support Mechanism
   • Benefits of Coaching for Stress Management
   • Enhancing Work-Life Balance through Coaching
   • Case Studies or Testimonials from Parents Who Have Benefited

4. Implementing Coaching Programs in the Workplace

   • Strategies for Employers to Support Working Parents
   • Designing Effective Coaching Programs
   • Measuring the Impact of Coaching on Employee Well-being

5. Conclusion

   • Recap of the Importance of Addressing Parental Stress
   • Call to Action for Employers and Policymakers

Understanding the Complexity of Hybrid Work and Parenting

Navigating the dual demands of remote and in-office work while addressing their children’s needs presents a unique challenge for parents. They grapple with how their upbringing influences their parenting and face tough questions such as:

• Am I doing enough?
• Am I managing my work and family responsibilities effectively?
• Do I have the right boundaries in place to separate work and family time?

The pandemic has fundamentally changed how we live, offering some parents flexibility that can be beneficial—like being present for dinner, picking up their kids from school, or attending to their children’s needs during the day. However, this flexibility has come with its own set of challenges. Dr. Vivek Murthy notes that the constant availability required by hybrid work—whether through video calls or other remote means—can create additional stress for parents.

Dr. Murthy observed, “Being available all the time creates additional stresses for parents because it can create this expectation that you’re available all the time.”

The blurred boundaries between work and personal life have left many parents feeling as though they are perpetually “on call,” intensifying stress and guilt as they strive to meet the demands of both roles. The challenge of balancing work and home life has led to increased feelings of isolation and pressure, making it difficult for parents to manage their responsibilities effectively.

As a result, the exodus of working parents struggling with the demands of hybrid work and home responsibilities is not surprising. To retain top talent and maintain a competitive edge, companies must actively support these caregivers. Creating a supportive and integrated workplace culture is crucial for alleviating the burden on working parents and ensuring they feel valued and supported.

Addressing Parental Stress: The Role of Workplace Culture

How do we address this? Considering that many women still quit their jobs to care for their children, much can be done to support and encourage working parents.

To mitigate these pressures, Dr. Murthy advocates for a workplace culture that recognizes and supports the unique challenges faced by parents. He emphasizes the importance of leaders who understand these stresses and the need for policies that offer predictability and flexibility.

“And so one of the things that’s really important in the workplace is to have a culture where we—leaders understand what the stresses are that parents are managing, where they have policies that support parents, like predictable schedules, so that parents can schedule and balance work and home, and where there’s also some degree of flexibility so that if issues come up, like a sick child, a parent has the ability to respond in that scenario and care for their family without worrying that they’re going to suffer at work.”

Dr. Murthy’s insights highlight the critical need for workplaces to adapt to the realities of modern parenting. It’s not just about offering flexibility; it’s about creating an environment where parents feel genuinely supported and understood. This cultural shift is essential in retaining top talent and high-potentials as well as ensuring that parents can excel both at work and at home.

How Coaching Can Be a Solution

This is where coaching comes into play. At uExcelerate, we believe that coaching can be a powerful tool in addressing the challenges highlighted by Dr. Murthy. Here’s how:

1. Building a Culture of Coaching: When you build a culture of coaching within an organization, you help develop leaders with a coaching mindset across the organization. What does this mean exactly? This mindset encourages leaders to approach their teams with empathy, compassion, and a focus on solutions. Leaders who are equipped with this mindset are better able to support their employees, particularly those who are parents, by offering the understanding and flexibility needed to balance work and personal responsibilities. As Dr. Murthy suggests, when leaders show this level of compassion, it not only alleviates stress but also enhances productivity, loyalty, and the overall quality of work.
2. Coaching for Stressed Parents: Parenting is no easy job. Trying to raise capable, well-mannered humans that can survive in a dog-eat-dog world is challenging on its own but then the added stress of deadlines, meetings, deliverables and performance, creates the perfect recipe to cause a breakdown in anyone. And so, once again, coaching is the answer to this problem. Coaching offers parents the tools and techniques they need to navigate this complex terrain. Through personalized coaching, parents can learn how to manage their stress, establish boundaries, and find a healthy balance between their work and family lives. At uExcelerate, our programs—such as the Employee Well-Being Program and the Women as Leaders Program—are designed to empower parents with these skills, helping them to not only survive but thrive in their dual roles.

Conclusion: Coaching as a Lifeline for Working Parents

The Surgeon General’s advisory serves as a wake-up call to organizations and leaders across the country. Parental stress is not just a personal issue; it’s a public health concern that demands immediate attention. Coaching provides a tangible solution by fostering supportive workplace cultures and equipping parents with the strategies they need to succeed.

At uExcelerate, we are committed to helping organizations build these cultures and support their employees through targeted coaching programs. By integrating coaching into the workplace, companies can unlock the full potential of their employees, ensuring that both work and family life flourish.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re a working parent struggling to balance it all, or a leader looking to better support your team, it’s time to explore the benefits of coaching. Talk to your boss about integrating coaching into your workplace, or reach out to us at uExcelerate to learn how our capability building programs can help you and your organization thrive.