Embrace Home Loans Hosts Holiday 'Online Recess' For Employees' Kids

The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many folks across the nation. However, it has posed an additional obstacle for employees who have to balance their lives between remote work and parenting. Embrace Home Loans has found a way to try to ease that burden through what the company calls, "online recess."

Beginning in summer 2020 and carrying throughout the holidays, Embrace has hosted online Zoom events for its employees' kids. Children that attend online recess participate in storytelling, singing, acting, artwork and other activities, led by Alexandra Fortin, an actress and nanny based in New York City.

"Normally we'd have summer, Halloween and holiday get-togethers for the kids at our office, including our huge annual party," said Dana Fortin, Embrace's chief marketing officer and Alexandra's mother. "Rather than cancel or postpone employee activities this year, we've gotten creative and come up with ways to evolve employee engagement and experiences to fit our newly remote workforce."

According to a press release, Embrace plans on continuing online recess as long as the pandemic keeps children's parents from going into the office.

"It takes some coordination to get everything out to the kids, but it has been so worth it," said Jennifer O'Neil, Embrace's director of corporate communications. "Not only are the kids excited, but the parents are, too. I get so many emails from our team who are grateful that the company cares about their kids' happiness. It feels fantastic just to do something extra to lift everyone's spirits and support their wellbeing during these crazy times."