For many working parents, balancing childcare and careers is a constant juggling act. It’s a common struggle that many Canadian businesses recognize and empathize with, especially when primary caregivers feel the pressure of missing work hours due to duties like driving to doctor’s appointments or staying home with a sick child who cannot get into their overscheduled doctor.
This is where Canadian innovation steps in. Founded in 2015, Maple was created to revolutionize healthcare and solve critical issues like access to family doctors. Maple has become a popular employee benefit offered by top Canadian companies of all sizes and scale to boost workplace well-being and take some of the pressure off those who are balancing life, work and everything in between.
Meet Alicia, a dynamic Account Manager at L’Oréal and mom to a lively two-year-old boy. She shares her story, talking about balancing a fast-paced career with home life and how Maple plays a crucial role in keeping her family healthy amidst the daily chaos.
Alicia, can you describe what you do for a living and what your day-to-day is like?
I’m a National Key Account Manager for L’Oréal Canada in the company’s Luxury Division, managing accounts like Giorgio Armani Beauty, YSL Beauty, Prada, and Valentino. My workday can be a whirlwind, but I’m incredibly proud to be building a meaningful career at L’Oréal, especially as a working parent. This year, L’Oréal celebrated its 20th anniversary of being listed as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, and it’s no secret why: they genuinely care about their employees beyond the workplace.
So you’re successful in your career and mom of two young children! What role has technology played in your ability to balance work and family responsibilities? Are there specific tools or platforms you find indispensable?
I can’t imagine how working moms simultaneously managed both work and life before all the great technology and apps we have today. Aside from essential work apps like Teams and Zoom, I rely heavily on parenting management apps. For example, my son’s daycare has a digital app that allows me to track his daily progress. Recently, I discovered Maple, and it’s been a game-changer, giving me peace of mind as a parent. I use it to request diagnoses and prescriptions when my son or I get sick, and to ask pediatric care questions as they arise.
You mentioned using Maple for virtual care, an employee benefit provided by your employer, L’Oréal. How has virtual care saved you time compared to traditional healthcare appointments or visiting a walk-in clinic or the ER?
Without Maple, I’d have to navigate my family doctor’s complicated online portal and wait about three weeks for an appointment, by which time the illness would either resolve itself or worsen. In-person visits mean taking my son out of daycare, driving over half an hour, finding parking, and then spending hours waiting with a sick, restless toddler, followed by a long commute home in traffic. This process results in missing hours or a full day of work.
Maple has revolutionized how we approach illnesses and general pediatric health. I can input my son’s symptoms from the comfort of our dining room table in about a minute, while feeding him. Within five minutes, we’re matched with a pediatric practitioner. After a quick conversation—over text, audio, or video—he’s able to get diagnosed, and his prescription is sent to our pharmacy within the hour.
I use Maple for my own healthcare too, ensuring I don’t delay or forgo taking care of myself as I would before, to avoid time away from my family or work. Maple ensures I don’t have to sacrifice my health and well-being.
Can you share a specific time where virtual care has been particularly beneficial for you or your family during a healthcare challenge? For example, has virtual care helped you navigate the back-to-school season or the transition to a new daycare?
Transitioning to a new daycare can be a nightmare for any parent. It disrupts your child’s routine, sleep schedule, and often brings new illnesses home. Over the past year, I’ve dealt with more colds than I could have imagined – I refer to it as the ‘disease du jours’ – each one brought back from daycare.
In the past six months, I’ve used Maple four times for my son, and twice for myself. Maple has helped me avoid further disruptions to my son’s routine and prevented my workday from being interrupted for something that can be treated within minutes from home.
Have you found any unexpected benefits from using a tool like Maple?
They say, ‘parenting takes a village,’ and I didn’t realize how quickly Maple would become a part of my village.
The primary benefit of Maple was clear from my first use: connecting with a healthcare provider in minutes, providing unmatched care. I’m continuously impressed by how accommodating Maple’s providers are and appreciate seeing their profiles to learn about their expertise. As a new mom with a demanding career, this puts my mind at ease and saves me time.
Another unexpected benefit is Maple’s centralized medical record-keeping, allowing me to track my son’s medical concerns, visits, and prescriptions easily. There’s no other easy way to keep track of medical appointments, so as someone who likes to stay organized, having a log of my son’s visits, diagnoses, and prescriptions is incredibly helpful.
I’m grateful that L’Oréal provides access to Maple, but even without it, I’d pay out of pocket because the time and peace of mind are invaluable. While I have a family doctor, most of my friends don’t, and it’s rare to see mine. Maple not only eliminates healthcare barriers, but meets Canadians’ needs for digital solutions.
And finally, Alicia, what advice would you give to other working parents who are balancing a demanding career and family responsibilities?
Our household motto is to leave work at work and stay present at home. There will always be busier days, but don’t take your devices out until your family is asleep. Also, embrace imperfection; parenthood can work in many different ways, and even for someone who plans everything, you never know what the day will bring.