Workflex Policies that Promote Work-Family Balance
On May 13 this year, families celebrated mothers nationwide. Then on Monday morning, working Moms, representing over a third of working women, went back to their jobs and continue to try and strike that delicate work-life balance in the 21st Century workplace.
As more mothers have joined the labor force, those who are the primary or sole earner in their families has increased over the decades, according to the Dept. of Labor. Mother-only households made up nearly 1 in 4 families with children in 2015 and over 78 percent of one-parent families. It’s no surprise that 40 percent of working mothers report ‘always feeling rushed.’
Flexibility to balance work and life issues ranks second to compensation as the reason employees stay at a job or leave it, according to recent SHRM data. Many recent winners of the When Work Works (WWW) award have effectively instigated workflex policies help parents address work and family responsibilities.
Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP in Camarillo, CA, not only offers paid maternity and paternity leave, but mothers can slowly return to work part-time; new mother’s rooms are provided for breastfeeding; and flexible work schedules allow parents to accommodate children’s schedules. Philadelphia-based, Exude provides career flexibility for working mothers by offering paid maternity and short term disability coverage, telecommuting, unlimited vacation, and an employer subsidy for dependent care.
If your organization is working to efficiently reconcile work-life issues, then apply for the 2018 When Work Works (WWW) Award and promote your best workflex practices to successfully attract and retain the rising numbers of working Moms. However, while the needs of working mothers continue to be an evolving HR issue, fathers are also struggling with 46 percent of men compared with 43 percent of women reporting work-family conflict. Fifty-six percent of all parents with kids under 18 say it’s difficult to balance job and family responsibilities, according to Pew Research.
PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc.in Portland, OR, added six weeks of fully paid "Wellness Leave," in addition to 6 weeks of STD paid at 90 percent for childbirth and other family issues to help both Moms and Dads balance work and home commitments. The firm believes that encouraging men to take as much leave as women helps to support the advancement of female employees.
Additionally, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System in Phoenix launched an “Infant at Work” program where both mothers and fathers may bring their babies to work up to the age of 6 months. This program allows employees to remain on their career tracks with minimal disruption.
Showcase your best workflex benefits! Apply for the When Work Works Award! - The prestigious When Work Works Award is part of SHRM’s national initiative that helps employers become more successful by transforming the way they view and adopt effective and flexible workplaces. The award application window is open now – May 25, 2018. There is no fee to apply! Click HERE for details and to apply.
Beth Day is a Washington, DC-area freelance writer and When Work Works contributor. A former US Senate press secretary, Ms. Day was a member of Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran’s staff for over 12 years. She's had feature articles published in Sosland's Baking & Snack magazine and SNAC International's Snack World magazine.
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