Dive Brief:

• More than 60% of working mothers and fathers have experienced burnout, according to a survey of 2,000 people by the Business Performance Innovation Network (BPI) and PollFish. Of the parents who reported this, 40% of burnout cases significantly affected their lives.
• Extreme frustration, constant exhaustion and difficulty handling daily tasks are top signs of parental burnout, which affected the quality of life of 40% of respondents. Nearly half said that burnout undermined their well-being, leaving them anxious and worried, unable to enjoy family time and bereft of focus they needed to concentrate at work. Two of the top three causes of parental burnout are work-related, says BPI. Exhaustion from jobs inside and outside the home caused stress for 29% of respondents. The same number said financial concerns and limitations contributed to their burnout. 
• BPI's chief strategy and research officer, Dave Murray, said in a statement that he believes employee wellness programs should include counseling sessions on healthy parenting. Citing statistics from market research firm IBISWorld, Murray says corporate wellness programs cost $8 billion a year and ought to include parental counseling, considering the cost.

Dive Insight:

Corporate wellness programs have added many programs to address workers' various issues, including mental health assistance, financial education and benefits for chronic conditions, such back pain and diabetes management. Employers can survey their workers to gauge their interest in and need for parental counseling.

Such programs can be well worth the cost: When employees suffer from burnout, employer healthcare costs can rise and productivity can take a hit. In a 2017 paper, workers reported that anxiety about finances was affecting their work, increasing absenteeism, healthcare claims and turnover. Employers do need to keep an eye on results, however.

But with the wide adoption of wellness programs, employers may be in a good position to add programs to assist workers with their stress — whether it's caused by money, caregiving responsibilities or something else. A healthy, productive workforce can be more engaged and, ultimately, more loyal.