Family Friendly Workplaces
" 'Family friendly' is a broad term referring to a work environment that seeks to support the employee’s needs outside the workplace. Specifically, family-friendly workplaces establish and sustain programs and policies meant to ease the stress inherent in managing both job and family responsibilities. Child care and dependent care benefits, education and family leave, job flexibility and wellness benefits are among commonly cited family-friendly practices found in today’s workplaces."
— Midwest WholeChild Development Group
The MCEL supports local efforts to encourage the development of family-friendly workplaces in Greater Kansas City. The MCEL partnered with the Midwest WholeChild Development Group, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Women's Bureau, Region VII, U.S. Department of Labor, to conduct a survey and publish a report on work-family issues in March 2005. Some excerpts:
Becoming More Family Friendly
Most businesses recognize the need to implement family-friendly programs, but many feel they do not have the resources to do so. Small businesses, in particular, may find it difficult to provide all of the supports for balancing work and family that they would like. Midwest WholeChild Development Group offers a list of simple, inexpensive ways that businesses can become more family friendly:
- Allow employees time to eat lunch at their children’s schools, or to participate in school-related activities with their children during the day.
- Offer flexible work options to help employees meet family responsibilities.
- Allow “floating holidays” for employees to take time off during holidays that are culturally important to them.
- Allow staff to take annual leave in hourly or half-day increments.
- Implement a policy to stay in touch with employees who are on leave after having a child or adopting a child, or on an extended leave due to illness.
- Sponsor in-service sessions, brown bag lunches, etc. on topics of interest to employees. Do not assume what their needs and interests are — ask.
- Develop a support network for new parents or other employees who face common issues. Provide space for them to get together.
- Sponsor regular events for employees and their families.
- Introduce a workplace policy for employees who are nursing mothers.
WholeFamily Matters: Family Friendly Workplace Program
Through WholeFamily Matters: Family Friendly Workplace Program, the Midwest WholeChild Development Group will work closely with area employers to assess their employees’ needs and develop, enhance and implement family-friendly workplace policies.
The initiative was piloted with three local companies to develop the program components. The next phase of the project will make the program available to additional Greater Kansas City employers. For more information about the resources offered, contact Nancy Mitchell at the Midwest WholeChild Development Group at 913/341-6200.
Online Resources
- Families and Work Institute
- Work and Family Connection
- Family Support America (select topic: work and family)
- Juggling Work and Family
- Keeping the People, Inc.
- Child Care Source
- Midwest WholeChild Development Group (select topic: workplace)
- National Center for Fathering