5 Family-Friendly Workplace Policies
Supporting Employees with a Family
A family-friendly workplace or employer is one whose policies make it possible for employees to more easily balance family and work, and to fulfill both their family and work obligations. Every company is different, and most can’t implement all the family-friendly policies they wish they could – but every little bit makes a difference! Here are just a few of the many examples of ways employers can support their employees who have families.
5 Tips for a Family-Friendly Workplace
1. Flexible Work Arrangement
Employees with flexible work arrangements may have a compressed work week, flexible working hours, full- or part-time telecommuting, or even just support from their employers to adjust their work hours to accommodate family obligations. Flexible work arrangements save employees money on commuting expenses, work clothing, and gives them the ability to schedule appointments at times convenient for their family’s schedule, among other benefits depending on the type of flexibility offered.
2. Breastfeeding Friendliness
August is National Breastfeeding Month! Did you know that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to provide eligible employees with reasonable break time to pump breast milk for their nursing child for one year after the child’s birth? Mothers should have a clean, private area – that’s not a bathroom – to pump and store breast milk. Having a breastfeeding-friendly space can give mothers a sense of comfort and support from the workplace.
3. Parental Leave
Paid parental leave can reduce financial stress, allow parents to focus on bonding with their child, and increase gender equality when fathers have more time to participate in childcare duties. Both parents need time to bond with baby and strengthen their family after having a baby. Bonding with baby during the postpartum period is a key part of growing a secure attachment to their parent. Even small amounts of leave can make a big difference in the stress of employees who have just welcomed a child, and their preparedness to return to work.
4. Connection to Resources
Connecting employees with information and resources about parenting, early childhood education options, or financial supports are a great support opportunity to give to staff. Additionally, helping employees connect with community resources that meet their specific needs can go a long way toward alleviating stress that impacts their ability to be both the best parent and the best employee they can be.
5. Early Childhood Education
Partnering with a local early care childhood education program in exchange for priority enrollment/reduced fees for your employees is a huge way to support your employees. With the steadily increasing prices of child care and the far and few between openings, having priority enrollment and/or reduced fees is a huge perk for employees with children.
These are just a few things employers can do to help their employees who are parents give their children the best start in life. The first 1,000 days of life have a lasting effect on a child’s future. During this time, babies’ brains develop at a rate never to be repeated. Investing in family-friendly policies helps improve workforce productivity and a company’s ability to attract, motivate and retain employees. Family-friendly policies benefits employers, families, and society. Investing in children at the start of their lives is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do because early moments matter.
Does your company do something not listed here? Let us know by commenting on our social posts from this week! Share Now