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NEW REPORT: Bridging the Work and Family Divide: Understanding the benefits of Family Friendly Workplaces

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The Bridging The Work and Family Divide Report provides a strong evidence base supporting the benefits of investing in Family Friendly Workplace policies and practices and ensuring employees are fully enabled to utilise these.  

It combines a detailed review of Australian and global academic research with stories from the lived experiences of founding partners and their employees.

The Report draws on data and insights from 70 businesses that participated in the inaugural year of the Family Friendly Workplaces initiative and are now certified, collectively these businesses employee almost 300,000 Australians. 

The Report illustrates clear progress by participating companies on embedding flexible work and gender-neutral policies. It also highlights some areas of increasing need – notably addressing the complex pressures faced by carers and the rising cost of childcare. 

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Introducing Family Friendly Workplaces

National Work + Family Standards provide employers with a benchmark
of best practice guidelines that support employees meet their work, family and wellbeing needs.

The Family Friendly Workplaces recognition framework certifies employers as a
Family Inclusive Workplace™.

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Applications open for the next cohort starting June 2022

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UNICEF Australia and Parents At Work, alongside 23 founding and supporting partner organisations, have come together to develop a set of National Work + Family Standards, and create the Family Friendly Workplaces certification.

Family Inclusive Workplace™ Certified Companies

Businesses setting the standard across the globe

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Novartis Australia
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What is a Family Friendly Workplace?

Family Friendly Workplaces strive to reduce the tension that exists between work and family by embedding and promoting policies and practices that genuinely support employees to thrive at work and at home.

Family Friendly policies are defined as those that “positively impact an employee’s ability to reconcile work and family life commitments”.

UNICEF

Why certify? Hear from our leaders...

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Grainne O'Loughlin

CEO | Karitane
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Emma Walsh

CEO | Parents At Work
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Melanie Evans

CEO | ING Australia
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Alison Hernandez

Director | Randstad Australia
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Ready to take the next step?

LEARN HOW TO CERTIFY

A global campaign
for change

In July 2019, UNICEF
launched new evidence and recommendations to advance family-friendly workplaces.
This is now an imperative as governments, businesses and communities respond to the
impact of COVID-19 on work
and family life.

READ MORE
"At Novartis we talk about ‘our unbossed people’ which is reflected both in the culture of our people and the policies we have in place. These support flexible working, paid parental leave, equal pay and beyond. Because by supporting our people to be there for the moments that matter in their family lives, we are building a more diverse, innovative and happier workplace."
RICHARD TEW
RICHARD TEWCountry President and General Manager, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia and New Zealand
"I am committed to supporting our people to not only bring their best self to work, but to bring their best self to their family and significant others. The lines between work and family continue to converge, each impacting the other. Our focus in creating a family friendly environment also extends to our program participants and we apply a holistic work/life framework that helps them to shape their future and secure their new beginning."
ALISON HERNANDEZ
ALISON HERNANDEZManaging Director, Randstad RiseSmart APAC
“At QBE we endeavour to embrace diversity and ensure we provide a platform where all our people feel supported to be at their best in the home, and at work. Our gender-equal paid parental leave policy, Share the Care, is a great example of our commitment to mainstreaming equal caring responsibilities for men and women. It’s not just the right thing to do, it makes perfect business sense, with family friendly workplaces delivering positive outcomes for society, business, our economy, and our families.”
Frank Costigan
Frank CostiganInterim Managing Director, QBE
"By becoming a family friendly accredited workplace we’re making it clear that we welcome and celebrate the different set of circumstances and needs that each parent brings to ING. This creates an environment where parents feel understood and encouraged to find the right balance between work and home, leading to better work and life outcomes. We think our approach is the right one for any modern workplace wanting to encourage happier, healthier and higher performing people – both at work and in their personal lives."
Melanie Evans
Melanie EvansCEO, ING
"The first 2,000 days shape a child’s future. In this time children develop many of the skills and abilities that help them grow into productive adults. Bonded attachment is fundamental for a child’s brain development and their ability to form relationships and is proven to have better education outcomes as well as reducing the risk of mental illness. This is a critical time for children, parents and families. What we were seeing through our parenting services, even before coronavirus, was an increase in stressed and anxious working parents needing support. The struggle of the juggle is very real! Family Friendly Workplaces support us raising safe, confident and resilient children as well as achieving the business benefits of diversity, productivity and attracting and retaining people.”
GRAINNE O'LOUGHLIN
GRAINNE O'LOUGHLINCEO, Karitane
“The Family Friendly Workplaces initiative is a ground-breaking and practical opportunity for workplaces to better support employees and their families in all their marvellous diversity. Families Australia is proud to be a Strategic Partner and to see the initiative being launched during National Families Week 2021 which highlights the vital role that families play in our society and our lives.”
Dr Brian Babington
Dr Brian BabingtonCEO, Families Australia
'I, and many other leading employers, have long recognised the productivity and business benefits of supporting parents, through family-friendly policies like paid parental leave and flexible working. As well as being the right thing to do, these policies attract and retain talented employees. They protect the significant investment it takes to train and develop staff before they become parents. And of particular importance to me is the fact that family policies - ones that allow both women and men to experience work-life balance - help female employees stay in paid work, and go a ways to reducing the gender pay-gap. It's time every workplace understood, and embraced the benefits of family friendly workplaces.'
Lisa Annese
Lisa AnneseCEO, Diversity Council of Australia
"At Deloitte, we want to ensure that all of our people have the opportunity to have a great career experience and reach their full potential. We recognise that supporting working families is critical to attracting and retaining great talent and ensuring that our people can effectively integrate work and life. We also recognise that through enabling the right conditions for our parents to thrive, we will positively contribute to their mental health and wellbeing. This in turn will positively impact the mental health and wellbeing of the children and families within the communities in which we live and work."
Margaret Dreyer
Margaret DreyerPartner, Audit and Assurance, Deloitte