How to position your company as a family-friendly place to work

Human resources departments around the globe have applied different strategies to attract top candidates, such as offering perks and employee benefits and posting advertisements on social media. Companies are adopting family-friendly policies to distinguish themselves in the fierce competition, despite the lack of a definitive "best practice" for retaining and hiring talent.

There is no ‘normal family’

As the name implies, family-friendly policies facilitate the balance of work and family life and fulfil commitments on both sides.

Today's families are incredibly diverse compared to decades ago. It is harder to pinpoint the primary caregiver today because many people have dual careers, are single parents, are same-sex couples, are unmarried, live apart from their parents, have step-parents, or have extended families.

Due to other global demographic trends, such as ageing populations and generational dependence, the problem is more complex. For this reason, companies must implement policies that can assist with multiple types of families.

How to position your company as family-friendly

You show that you care about your employees by introducing family-friendly policies instead of only offering lip service and stating the statutory requirements. This can help you recruit and retain talented employees. This is particularly important since we live in the digital age in which employees can easily vent their discontent with their employer on anonymous employer review sites and social media platforms.

In addition to employee retention statistics, other family-friendly benefits are equally vital but less tangible, such as employee development and engagement. By promoting work-life balance and flexibility, family-friendly policies boost employee engagement, making it easier for parents and caregivers to reconcile work and their personal lives. It makes it easier for people to focus on their job duties when they don't need to worry about their family life. Additionally, they may be able to take up courses and training sessions to develop themselves further. Some family friendly policies to consider:

Working from home one day a week

One day per week, employees can work remotely. This benefit is available Monday through Friday. Employees of this company can work from the comfort of their own homes and skip the morning commute. Today, technology makes it possible for employees to communicate by phone and email from anywhere in the world, a feat unthinkable decades ago. The company does not have to put money aside to implement this policy, so it can also be considered a no-cost policy.

Flexible working hours

Flexible working times are another benefit that an organisation can provide without incurring extra charges. A flexible work schedule allows employees to leave early or stay late to attend to personal or family matters. You will find this especially useful if you must attend your child's school ceremony or otherwise have a sudden event. Employees and employers will also feel more trusted and accountable with this line of communication.

Parental leave

The right to maternity and paternity leave ensures that both spouses have the same opportunities to see their babies and strengthen their families' relationships. There are paid, unpaid, and a mix of both types of leave available.

Promoting family friendly policies in the workplace

Employers should survey their employees to determine their primary concerns and then develop a clearly defined goal to adopt family-friendly policies successfully. In addition, you should research the feasibility of the policies you plan to implement and their impact on your budget.

These are just some ideas you can implement to position your company as a family-friendly place to work. As technology develops, companies will continue to think outside the box to enhance staff retention and morale.