Family Friendly Workplaces

Congratulations to recoveriescorp for being certified as a Family Inclusive Workplace! Hear what Chief People Officer, Rachel Aziz GAICD had to say, "One of today's challenges for many organisations is attracting and retaining great talent – key to this is creating a thriving organisational culture ensuring an inclusive approach. The family-friendly accreditation has endorsed our policies, processes and practises at the recoveriescorp group and we wish to continue to extend our understanding of supporting those with caring responsibilities. In leading our People & Culture function, a priority for me at the group is ensuring we are an organisation that is conscious and proactive in its approach to carers. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it also ensures we are able to bring in and retain the best talent, and commit to ensuring great wellbeing outcomes for people, families, and the wider community. As well as generating positive productivity outcomes, driving achievement towards a more gender-balanced workforce at every level and ultimately helping people live a more balanced purposeful life." Congratulations recoveriescorp! Want to be a more inclusive workplace? Start by completing the free benchmarking assessment to see where your organisation stands: https://hubs.la/Q02y3DGK0 Jordelyn G. #familyfriendly

This week’s #NAIDOCweek is an important opportunity for employers to celebrate First Nations team members, and to reinvigorate their commitments to supporting their families. The 2024 theme is "Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud," celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As the National NAIDOC Committee explains, the theme honours First Nations culture's enduring strength and vitality, with fire symbolising connection to Country and tradition. The 2024 National Working Families Report revealed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers face unique challenges. These respondents said they were more likely to report difficulties needing to take time off for sick children or family members (at 53% compared with 40% of the total survey sample). Fear of stereotyping or discrimination often prevents them from seeking employer support. Employers must support First Nations team members in managing responsibilities and ensure they feel proud and empowered to discuss their families and commitments. Family Friendly Workplaces, in partnership with Indigenous-led organisations, aim to support this solidarity. Initiatives like SMS4dads which provide messages and support for new dads, including SMS4DeadlyDads in partnership with Awabakal, highlight the importance of culturally appropriate support. NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and connect with the work and pride of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Read the complete article now: https://hubs.la/Q02GlBzN0

Grandparents can now be paid to care for their grandchildren under a groundbreaking new law in Sweden. Parents can transfer up to 45 days of their paid parental leave to grandparents, or 90 days if they are single parents. This initiative aims to support families and enhance work-life balance, building on Sweden's strong tradition of family-friendly policies. This law, effective from July 1, 2024, allows for a more flexible and supportive approach to child care, recognising the vital role grandparents play in family life. Sweden continues to lead the way in progressive social policies, ensuring families are well-supported. Check out the full article here: https://hubs.la/Q02Fybxm0 Complete the free benchmarking assessment to see where your organisation stands: https://hubs.la/Q02Fy8B40 #FamilyFriendly #ParentalLeave #Sweden #Grandparentleave

Insights from the 2024 National Working Families Survey reveal that flexible work arrangements alone are not sufficient to help working parents and carers balance their work and family needs. The rising cost and limited availability of childcare add immense pressure on working parents and carers, especially during the current cost of living crisis. Despite ongoing efforts, caregiving remains a major barrier to closing the gender gap due to issues around gender roles. Download the report now to understand the full impact: https://hubs.la/Q02DZynp0 #Childcare #WorkLifeBalance #GenderGap #WorkingParents #CaregivingChallenges

Stay ahead with the latest industry news, updates, initiatives, and events Our mission is to create a positive social impact, workplace inclusion, gender equality, and overall wellbeing for workplaces and families. Sign up now: https://hubs.la/Q02D72Q20 Highlights From Our Latest Monthly Newsletter: Case Study Feature: Learn how four fathers benefit from their employer's family-friendly policies, including grandparents' leave, a four-day work week, and paid parental leave. Read More Here: https://hubs.la/Q02D6-NN0 Missed Our Last Event? Catch the panel with Georgie Dent, Lisa Annese, and Geoff Lloyd, as they dissect the report findings and discuss the essential investments required to bridge the work and care divide. Watch the recording: https://hubs.la/Q02D70jW0 Stay Informed with Top Reads: - The Age: Babynomics - Is starting a family good for you or just for the nation? - ABC Radio National: Working families living with huge stress to make 'the juggle' work - The Australian Financial Review: Why dads take less time off than mums - 7NEWS Australia: Australian parents suffering major stress, new survey finds Join us and help build a family-friendly Australia. Sign up for our newsletter today. https://hubs.la/Q02D72Q20 #FamilyFriendlyWorkplace #WorkLifeBalance #GenderEquality Emma Walsh

“I hate to apply the ROI business case spreadsheet to it when we are talking about caring for people, but the ROI is massive, and I don’t think there is anything more transformative for a company’s culture than when you really care for all aspects of a person’s life ...They don't have a hard stop at the front door." - Dr David Cooke, CEO of ESG Advisory and Family Friendly Workplaces. The findings of the 2024 National Working Families Survey underscore the urgent need for a family-friendly Australia, as advocated at the report launch at Deloitte Australia. At the launch, panellist Grainne O., CEO of Karitane, emphasised the critical first 2000 days of a child’s life and the impact of early experiences on mental health and stress. Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood called for bold action to make Australia the best place to raise a child, pointing out the need for ambitious policy changes, particularly in paid parental leave and early childhood education infrastructure. Take the pledge and benchmark your workplace today: https://hubs.la/Q02Bv8G20 #familyinclusive #familyfriendly #carers

"As a school, we understand the important role that families play in the lives of children. We want to support families across all areas of the School community, including our staff" - Louise Hambridge, Business Manager, Inaburra School. Congratulations Inaburra School for being certified as a Family Inclusive Workplace for 2024 - 2026! Inaburra is committed to supporting staff beyond the workplace, ensuring they arrive each day feeling confident and valued in their roles. From flexible work arrangements to support during challenging times, well-being events and activities, and further study support, Inaburra aims to be a workplace that demonstrates their staff are their greatest asset. Want to be a more inclusive workplace? Start by completing the free benchmarking assessment to see where your organisation stands: https://hubs.la/Q02Bdc0B0 #WorkplaceCulture #FamilyFriendly #InclusiveWorkplaces #Inaburra #InaburraSchool

"Parents and children do not exist in separate vacuums... if parents aren’t supported, it’s very difficult for them to support their children." - Georgie Dent. On June 4th, Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work hosted an event where we had the privilege of hearing from guest speakers, Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood, Lisa Annese, CEO of Diversity Council Australia Ltd and Geoff Lloyd, Chair of The Fathering Project. Key Insights discussed from the 2024 National Working Families Survey: - Certified family-friendly organisations see nearly 10% better employee satisfaction. - Stress levels have surged by 23% since 2019, with a staggering 75% of women feeling the strain. - 60% of women prioritise job flexibility, steering clear of roles lacking this aspect. - The domestic and caregiving workload remains disproportionately high for women, nearly twice that of men. Where to from here? The call for action is loud and clear – workplaces must adapt policies and attitudes to normalise caregiving and flexibility. The Family Friendly Workplaces initiative is pioneering this change with the National Work and Family Standards. Leadership’s Role: A leader’s adoption of flexible work options significantly influences team comfort levels, highlighting the importance of culture and accountability. A Unified Call to Action: Leaders are encouraged to align their workplaces with National Work and Family Standards, advocating for accessible childcare and enhanced parental leave policies. Don’t miss out on the valuable insights shared during the event. Watch the complete recording now: https://hubs.la/Q02zNBPs0 Take the pledge and benchmark your workplace today: https://hubs.la/Q02zNg730 #WorkLifeBalance #FamilyFriendlyWorkplaces #Leadership #DiversityAndInclusion

The 2024 National Working Families Report, launched at Deloitte Australia last week, underscores the difficulties faced by over 6,000 parents and carers in managing work and caregiving roles. The report sheds light on the significant stress experienced by women, particularly in families with complex care needs or without support networks. It stresses the urgency for workplaces to evolve policies and attitudes to better accommodate employees’ dual roles, especially in the context of current societal challenges such as the cost of living crisis, mental health issues among youth, and chronic health conditions. It calls for a collective effort from government and business leaders to recognise the value of caregiving and the slow pace of progress, which adversely impacts women’s careers and well-being, as well as men’s participation in caregiving roles. The report emphasises that caring responsibilities are a shared concern, affecting most Australians at some stage and that addressing them benefits everyone. Check out Parents At Work Client Services Manager and working mum, Emily Potts featured on 7NEWS Australia below! The full report is available now: https://hubs.la/Q02zbLRC0 Take the self-assessment and benchmark your workplace today: https://hubs.la/Q02zbG_R0 Emma Walsh UNICEF Australia The Parenthood QBE Insurance Karitane

Last Thursday, the 2024 National Working Families Report was launched during a breakfast event hosted by Deloitte Australia. This report is a culmination of insights from over 6,000 parents and carers and paints a concerning picture of the struggle to balance work and caregiving responsibilities. The findings highlight a critical need for workplaces to adapt their policies and attitudes to better support employees juggling work and caregiving duties. Alarmingly, the report reveals a gender disparity, with 74% of women reporting heightened stress levels, particularly pronounced among families with complex care needs, single or same-sex parents, culturally diverse families, and those lacking a support network. Amidst a cost of living crisis, an aging population requiring care, a declining birth rate, 40% of young people facing mental health issues, and half of Australians living with chronic health conditions, it’s imperative for workplace policies to acknowledge and prepare for these realities. The repercussions of these findings extend beyond the personal toll on employees and their dependents; they also have a cascading impact on employers and the broader economy. The report urges policymakers to take decisive action to eliminate gender biases in caregiving, invest in family-friendly policies as part of health and safety measures, and implement productivity strategies that enhance workforce participation, engagement, and well-being. It calls on both government and business leaders to value caregiving and acknowledge the insufficient pace of progress, which continues to detrimentally affect the career and well-being of women and children, and hinders men from fully embracing caregiving roles without fear of career setbacks. This stress adds to the challenges families face in balancing work and life, with far-reaching implications for our economy, society, and community. Caring responsibilities will touch most Australians at some point, as they either provide care or receive it while managing work commitments. Addressing this issue is not solely a women’s issue; it’s a collective concern that benefits everyone when solved. We urge business leaders to get on board and make a commitment to making Australia a more family-friendly nation by pledging to benchmark their workplace as the first step to making Australia one of the best countries to work and care for family and support the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Explore the full report: https://hubs.la/Q02zbHJ60 Take the self-assessment and benchmark your workplace today: https://hubs.la/Q02zbBrv0 Emma Walsh Dr David Cooke Pip Dexter Georgie Dent Angela Priestley Grainne O. Ann Sherry AO The Parenthood QBE Insurance Karitane Family Friendly Workplaces UNICEF Australia