Families struggling to make ends meet have a tough time under any circumstances. COVID-19 has made it a whole lot tougher.

That’s the realization that sparked a virtual community conversation, “ALICE In The Workplace,” sponsored by United Way BCKR and MichiganWorks! Southwest. Around 40 people from the region’s businesses, education and nonprofits gathered online to talk about the unique challenges facing working parents as their kids return to school during a pandemic.

“Prior to COVID-19, four of every 10 households in our region were either in poverty or what we call ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households earn above the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living,” said Alyssa Stewart, Vice President of Impact & Engagement at United Way BCKR.

“These are families that strive daily to balance their daily needs and the demands of work,” Stewart added. “One small change, like having to be there for a child who is doing school online or has a hybrid schedule that requires a childcare arrangement, can upset that balance and plunge a family into a financial crisis.”

The economic effects of the pandemic add another threat, said Ashley Iovieno, Business Services Manager for MichiganWorks! Southwest.

“In July, unemployment in our four-county area ranged from 8.7% to 10.9%, the highest numbers we’ve seen in eight years,” she said. “A furlough or layoff puts ALICE families at increased risk of slipping into poverty.”

Participants in the online event went into virtual breakout rooms to talk about specific challenges and opportunities while brainstorming solutions. Among the observations:

• Health and safety of employees, customers and families is the overarching focus. This prompts innovations such as use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), reduced or flexible hours, virtual work and other approaches.

• Hiring new employees, managing staff turnover and adapting work to the demands of the pandemic present significant challenges. Where possible, some businesses allow greater flexibility around credentials to recruit and hire workers.

• New and simpler technologies offer innovative ways for people to work, including working from home. Project management and new ways to communicate can benefit from technology. But not every job can be done remotely, and many tasks don’t always benefit from these tools.

• Childcare availability and affordability presents barriers. Some employers offer stipends, others offer flexible working arrangements. There are some limited emergency options identified through Southwest Child Care Resources.

• At-home school brings added difficulties for working parents. Employers are trying to provide flexible options—remote working, flexible hours, helpful webinars and other resources, etc.—to help parents adapt.

• Patience and flexibility by employers are paramount to helping themselves and their employees weather the crisis.

While there are no easy answers, Stewart noted that the challenges of COVID-19 can spark new perspectives and solutions.

“The unprecedented nature of our situation allows us to question our norms and the equity of our processes and policies,” said Stewart.

A full list of conversation topics from the virtual meeting can be found here.