Promoting Family-Friendly Policies in the Workplace and Government

1. Promoting Family-Friendly Policies in the Workplace and Government

2. What are family-friendly policies? • Family-friendly workplace or employer is one whose policies make it possible for employees to more easily balance family and work. • Family-friendly government policies are those laws, regulations and social policies that recognize the importance of families to society.

3. Family-friendly workplace policies • Flex-time, a flexible work schedule. • Job sharing, employees may share a single position, each working a fraction of the time. • Allowing work away from the worksite. • Employee and family health benefits, in addition to health and dental insure this may include on-site fitness centers or subsides for joining a gym. • Tuition for employee education. • Can you think of others?

4. Family-friendly government policies There are two ways the government can be family-friendly: • Institute family-friendly workplace policies. • The government, at any level, can encourage family-friendly policies- by laws or other methods in business and public life in general.

5. Ways the government can encourage family-friendly policies • Mandating that businesses institute family-friendly policies. • Using tax breaks and subsides to encourage businesses to adopt family-friendly policies. • Funding and maintaining family-oriented public facilities. • Encouraging family-friendly policy among public agencies and services. • Mandating a health insurance plan for all families • Can you think of others?

6. Why promote family-friendly policies? • Allow parents to spend more time with their children. • Reduce stress and allow more choices. • Employees are more productive. • Allow employees to improve their economic status and quality of life. • Help employers keep valuable employees, and recruit the best. • They are good for the society.

7. Who should promote family-friendly policies? • Business people. • Politicians and other policy makers. • People affected by family-friendly policies. • The media. • A broad-based coalition.

8. When should you promote family-friendly policies? • Employees and/or family members raise the issue. • Families are having a tough time. • Family issues are in the news and the public eye. • Family issues are highlighted in a political campaign. • During labor negotiations. • During an economic development campaign.

9. How do you promote family-friendly policies in the government and workplace? • Decide where to start, aim for fairness in your purpose: what's the greatest benefit for everyone. • Do your homework. • Particular needs of your community. • Policies that have been implemented elsewhere and their results. • Potential costs and benefits. • Alternatives to what you're initially proposing. • Offer to help find solutions that work. • Point to and reward those workplaces and government agencies who support and engage in family-friendly practices. • Frame the debate as a win-win situation, emphasize the fact that family-friendly policies are good for everyone.

10. How do you promote family-friendly policies in the government and workplace (cont.)? Marshall support and communicate • If you can put together a coalition, and look to gaining the support of other influential groups: • Unions and other trade associations • Working families • Businesses and business associations • Policy makers • The media Advocate for family-friendly policies in ways that are appropriate to the situation, some possible ways may include: • Union negotiations • Legislative advocacy • A media campaign • Direct action Encourage the continued evaluation and adaptation of policies