diff --git a/build-tools/helm/spark-kubernetes-operator/values.yaml b/build-tools/helm/spark-kubernetes-operator/values.yaml
index 92f28b45..3fb3b95e 100644
--- a/build-tools/helm/spark-kubernetes-operator/values.yaml
+++ b/build-tools/helm/spark-kubernetes-operator/values.yaml
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ operatorDeployment:
     # https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/scheduling-eviction/topology-spread-constraints/
     topologySpreadConstraints: [ ]
     operatorContainer:
-      jvmArgs: "-Dfile.encoding=UTF8 -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError"
+      jvmArgs: "-Dfile.encoding=UTF8 -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError -XX:+UseParallelGC"
       env:
         - name: "SPARK_USER"
           value: "spark"
diff --git a/docs/operations.md b/docs/operations.md
index 96a58b6c..4f679a8c 100644
--- a/docs/operations.md
+++ b/docs/operations.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ following table:
 | operatorDeployment.operatorPod.volumes                           | Additional volumes to be added to the operator pod.                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                         |
 | operatorDeployment.operatorPod.priorityClassName                 | Priority class name to be used for the operator pod                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                         |
 | operatorDeployment.operatorPod.securityContext                   | Security context overrides for the operator pod                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                         |
-| operatorDeployment.operatorPod.operatorContainer.jvmArgs         | JVM arg override for the operator container.                                                                                                                                   | `"-Dfile.encoding=UTF8 -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError"`                                                    |
+| operatorDeployment.operatorPod.operatorContainer.jvmArgs         | JVM arg override for the operator container.                                                                                                                                   | `"-Dfile.encoding=UTF8 -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError -XX:+UseParallelGC"`                                                    |
 | operatorDeployment.operatorPod.operatorContainer.env             | Custom env to be added to the operator container.                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                         |
 | operatorDeployment.operatorPod.operatorContainer.envFrom         | Custom envFrom to be added to the operator container, e.g. for downward API.                                                                                                   |                                                                                                         |
 | operatorDeployment.operatorPod.operatorContainer.probes          | Probe config for the operator container.                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                         |