Questions: Businesses have responded to the increase in single-parent households by increasing pay and benefits for them adding more work hours to the week implementing such programs as family leave and flextime creating more rules and less flexibility for workers who are late

The answer is implementing such programs as family leave and flextime.

While some businesses may offer increased pay and benefits to attract and retain employees, this is not a specific response to the increase in single-parent households. Pay and benefits are generally determined by market conditions, industry standards, and company policies rather than the family structure of employees.

Adding more work hours to the week would likely be counterproductive for single-parent households, as it would reduce the time available for family responsibilities. This option does not align with the needs of single-parent families who often require more flexibility to balance work and family life.

This option is the most relevant response to the increase in single-parent households. Programs like family leave and flextime provide the flexibility that single parents need to manage their work and family responsibilities. Family leave allows parents to take time off for family-related matters, while flextime offers flexible working hours, which can be crucial for single parents who need to coordinate childcare and other family obligations.

Creating more rules and less flexibility would not be a supportive response to the needs of single-parent households. Single parents often face unique challenges that require understanding and flexibility from employers, such as unexpected childcare issues or school-related commitments. Therefore, this option is not a suitable response to the increase in single-parent households.