How to Tell if an Employer Actually Supports Working Parents (Before You Accept an Offer)

Maybe you’ve got a dream job prospect dangling right in front of you or perhaps you’re feeling ready for a new challenge, a different boss, or a change of scenery and it’s time to find a new gig.

As a working parent going through any job search or interview process, you’ll find yourself wondering: Is this an environment that supports working parents? Do I really want to hang my professional hat here as a mom or dad completely devoted to my kids? Will this organization allow me to be both the employee and the parent I want to be?

In the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of parents around the world as a researcher, adviser, and fellow working parent. After working as a human capital expert and executive coach, I founded Workparent, a specialist coaching and training firm, and in 2021, I published Workparent: The Complete Guide to Succeeding on the Job, Staying True to Yourself, and Raising Happy Kids.

So I know that to answer all those questions and discern whether a company is truly supportive of working parents, you have a number of information sources at your disposal. Here they are, in rough ascending order of usefulness and reliability.