Family Friendly Workplace
The majority of people in the US are women, as well as approximately 60% of women are in the workplace with children under 3 years old. How does your company handle women who are caretakers? Is your company family-friendly or is it considered an imposition to have employees who are also caretakers?
If you are managing an employee (both male/female) who has family obligations, are you flexible with them and help them balance their personal and business lives?
Talent is hard to find so if you have an employee who needs flexibility, you can create loyalty as well as lessen the employee’s stress levels if you find solutions that work for both of you.
Being flexible doesn’t mean that you tolerate low performance. If the performance level decreases for a short adjustment period, still keep the employee focused, and yet understand what is impacting their performance. Being flexible means you help the employee bring their performance back up by mutual decisions. All employees have some sluggish times in their performance.
What makes a family friendly workplace?
- on site day care
- flex time – flexible work schedule
- job sharing
- work from home
- maternity/paternity leave
- flexible emergency leave
- elder care
- bring your child to work
Managing employees with caretaker responsibilities is part of the array of personal issues that requires partnering with your team members to build trust and productivity in your business.
There are many generations in the workforce and all of them require work/life balance solutions. They are willing to be flexible and work hard for you and, as their manager, be open to solutions with them.
Be well,
Pat
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