Balancing a Career in Technology With the Role of Parenthood

“Parenting is the toughest job in the world.” At some point, everyone has heard some iteration of this famous saying.  

In fact, in 2012, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated June 1 as the Global Day of Parents. This day offers everyone the opportunity to appreciate all parents for their "selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship." 

It’s no secret that balancing work and rearing children comes with its own unique set of hurdles, and when working in technology, the balancing act can be tenfold.  

At Rackspace Technology®, supporting our globally diverse caregivers is paramount to providing Fanatical Experience™ for our customers. In 2021, we were named Best Place to Work for Moms, Best Place to Work for Dads, and Best Place to Work for Remote Working Parents by Fatherly and Scary Mommy. 

One of the ways we support our fanatical parents across the globe is through one of our Racker Resource Groups (RRGs), RackParents, an internal network of support for those responsible for nurturing children. The primary focus of this RRG is to provide Rackers with resources to balance the complexities of professionalism and parenthood.

RackParents Resource Group 

This global, diverse, topic-centric group offers tools, advice, coffee chats, and more for parents, caregivers, and guardians. It is a source of connection, support, and information to help Rackers navigate the challenges of being a working parent. 

“We really want to help all Rackers, whether they’re parents, guardians, or simply helping raise amazing children globally,” said Brooks Quillian, Events AV Technician and the President of RackParents. “It’s important for parents and caregivers to have access to tools they can use to provide a stable foundation for mental, physical, and technological health for themselves and those they care for.” 

One of the rising topics the group has been passionate about is how the pandemic catapulted children deeper into the technology landscape via long-distance learning and parents working from home.  

The RRG hosted a virtual chat called “Parenting in a Digital World” with Mandy Majors, founder of nextTalk. This non-profit organization keeps kids safe online by creating a culture of conversation in families. 

In the future, the group hopes to provide training that helps Rackers harness their CliftonStrengths®, an assessment every Racker takes during onboarding to identify their talent themes and apply them positively and proactively when approaching parenting decisions.  

You can also find more information about our Racker Resource Groups by downloading our Environmental, Social, and Governance Report.  

Global Employee Benefits 

While our core benefits differ from region to region, we still endeavor to establish a baseline where every Racker worldwide can feel supported.  

Parental Bonding Leave: Our Global Parental Bonding program provides two weeks of 100% paid parental leave for all Rackers across the globe regardless of when they joined the company. In most cases, Rackers will receive even more time off depending on their location and benefit eligibility guidelines.  For example, most birth mothers receive approximately 16 weeks of 100% paid pregnancy/bonding leave in the US, and fathers/birth partners receive approximately six weeks of 100% paid bonding leave in conjunction with benefit eligibility guidelines. We also recognize the diversity of families and offer Pet Care Time Off, where Rackers can take up to two days off per year for new pet bonding. 

Employee Assistance Program: Understanding that emotional health is just as important as physical health, our Employee Assistance Plans provide access to Rackers, no matter where they work or live, with support for themselves and their families struggling to cope with emotional and mental health challenges. ​The program offers confidential, short-term counseling and resources for issues ranging from depression and domestic problems to improving work-life balance and communication. 

Wellbeing Solutions: With a commitment to wellness, all Rackers have access to Whil, the leading digital wellbeing solution, with daily sessions and courses to manage stress and improve your wellbeing, relationships, sleep, and more. The digital library includes programs and guided on-demand sessions to help employees achieve health, performance, and relationship goals. There’s also mindfulness training to create healthy habits, be a better leader, and calm anxiety. 

Learn more about life at Rackspace Technology or our suite of benefits aimed at helping every employee balance their careers, families, and health.