1 in 4 Working Parents Is in Crisis. Think Your Business Feels It?
A friend called me up last month and said, ‘One of my best employees is struggling. But it’s not the job. It’s her daughter.’ He wanted to know how he could help her and get her head back in the game.
People contact me all the time looking for direction on stuff like this.
I said, “You want her head in the game? Ease her fears with her daughter.”
His star employee had a teenage daughter who’d been spiralling. Skipping school. Making dangerous choices. Every night was a battle, every morning was a worry. She wasn’t sleeping, barely eating, and dragging herself to work on fumes.
“She didn’t want to tell me. She didn’t want to look weak. She didn’t want pity. She just kept showing up. Physically there. Mentally somewhere else.”
The mental health stigma in the workplace is still strong. People judge. I’m sure there are a few people who don’t think I’m fit to parent.
I get it, it comes with the territory.
I could relate all too well with his employee. That had been my world more than a decade ago with my daughter, Maddie.
That’s not a rare story. It’s happening everywhere. And I have a lot of parents reaching out to me, because they don’t know where else to go.
Mental health leave is up 300% since the pandemic.* That’s not a stat you can brush aside. It’s a warning signal.
The article I read* didn’t reference why absenteeism is spiking, but when you layer in cross-dimensional data, the picture becomes clearer. Nearly one in four employees who is also a parent is dealing with a teen who has a serious mental health disorder.
When our kids struggle, we struggle. Full stop. Parents don’t clock out of worry when they clock in at work.
The Cost We Don’t See
Absenteeism is only part of the story. For every employee who takes leave, there are many more who show up physically, but aren’t really there.
That’s presenteeism. And it’s 5 to 10 times more costly than absenteeism.
Think about that for a second: if absenteeism is up 300%, the silent drain of presenteeism is crippling organizations. Productivity slips. Engagement collapses. Small mistakes add up. And all the while, leaders wonder why performance is down even when the office looks full.
Why This Matters for Leaders
This is no longer a “personal issue” that employees should manage alone. It’s a business issue. The mental health of your employees and their families directly impacts your bottom line.
That’s where The MentorWell comes in. We help teens build emotional intelligence, resilience, and confidence in just 10 minutes a day. When kids learn how to manage emotions, bounce back from setbacks, and handle conflict, parents bring that peace of mind to work.
A stronger home creates stronger employees. And stronger employees build stronger businesses.
Getting Ahead of the Storm
At The MentorWell, we help employers get ahead of the storm. We run information sessions for parents on how to recognize when their teen might be struggling. The number one thing parents ask me is: “How do I find the right resources?”
That question comes from a place of fear and exhaustion. The weight these parents are carrying is almost unimaginable. Giving them tools, awareness, and resources before things reach crisis mode isn’t just an act of compassion, it’s a smart investment in the well-being of your people.
Because when parents feel supported at home, they show up stronger, calmer, and more focused at work.
Are you an HR leader searching for stronger mental health and wellness solutions?
If so, you’ll want to see how The MentorWell supports not just employees, but their families too. And your company’s bottom line.
We know that when a teen is struggling, it impacts parents, and that stress inevitably carries into the workplace. The MentorWell gives parents tools to identify challenges early, access the right resources, and strengthen emotional well-being at home.
The result?
Employees who feel supported, not overwhelmed.
Lower absenteeism and higher engagement.
Reduced employee benefit costs through proactive, preventative support.
When you invest in the emotional health of families, you invest in the strength and stability of your workforce.
👉 Let us show you how The MentorWell can become part of your employee wellness strategy; your employees and business will thank you.
