Hi there, my name is Tom, and I am currently the CEO at YMCA Plymouth. In my experience, the biggest challenges of balancing parenthood and careers are time and guilt. Even though I have great support from my wife, I often feel guilty about not being able to give enough time to my children or not being able to keep my commitments.

As an employer, I strongly believe that we should support staff where family comes first. Issues at home can have a significant impact on engagement and productivity at work, so being flexible as an employer can go a long way in helping employees overcome these challenges.

I always stress the importance of being supportive and helping employees overcome any barriers related to their family life. This approach helps to create a more committed and dedicated staff that is willing to work hard and support the organization through challenging times. Ultimately, putting family first benefits both the employee and the employer.