Building Family Friendly Workplaces
What is a Family Friendly Workplace?
Family Friendly Workplaces have policies that provide highly valued flexibility and support to employees striving to meet and balance the demands of family and community life, in addition to their job. Such policies can include paid leave, health support, work schedules, and economic support.
Family Friendly Workplaces create value for employees, employers, and the local economy – increasing completion of postsecondary education, raising labor force participation, increasing workforce productivity, and helping businesses attract and retain talent, while ensuring that children have the chance to develop and begin kindergarten ready to thrive in school, work, and life.
Why is this Important for my Business?
A family of four with an infant and a preschooler needs to make $88,000 annually to live comfortably. Approximately two out of every five families in our region don’t earn enough to address their basic household budget need and a third of the labor force needs childcare. A Family Friendly Workplace is fundamental to support and retain employees and workforce productivity. Tampa Bay business leaders understand the importance of a well-educated, happy, healthy workforce to support a strong local economy and to keep our community competitive and vibrant. In fact, multiple rigorous studies have shown that for every dollar invested in early childhood programs, there is a return of $4 to $9 for low-income children. Economics have also shown that high-quality early childhood programs bring impressive returns on investment to the public and, most importantly, provide young children with a healthy environment in which to learn and grow.
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What is a Family Friendly Tampa Bay?
Family Friendly Tampa Bay is here and committed to increasing the number of businesses that provide Family Friendly policies to their employees. Through the inclusive lens of Family Friendly Workplace policies, employers not only support the workforce of today, but lay the groundwork for the workforce of tomorrow by caring about their workers and their families.
What are the Benefits of Being Awarded a Family Friendly Workplace Designation?
For Tampa Bay businesses and organizations, building Family Friendly Workplaces is a winning proposition and a wise investment in the future of the community.
Employers certified as a Family Friendly Workplace will be:
- Included in Thrive by Five publicity materials
- Given the opportunity to participate in business engagement and networking events
- Sent family friendly business digital logos and other marketing materials
- Honored in our annual Family Friendly Workplace Awards
What are the Family Friendly Tampa Bay Business Awards?
The Family Friendly Business Awards™ designation was created to honor companies who are taking the lead in supporting their workforce and community by implementing Family Friendly policies in their workplace. Policies that a business chooses to implement have a direct impact on the caregivers’ ability to adequately care for their child, which impacts the child’s on-time development and workforce productivity and the overall economic growth of a community.
Businesses may earn a platinum, gold, silver, or bronze award designation for workplace practices that support families in the Tampa Bay community. We are proud to recognize family-minded employers who understand the value of a well-educated, happy, and healthy workforce in building a strong economy.
Designation status is evaluated by a selection committee comprised of business leaders, caregivers, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, and employees. For any questions regarding this initiative, please contact Dr. Diana Santangelo.
Donate
Donations support the work of Thrive by Five Tampa Bay, from support and assistance for young children and their families to resources and boosters for early childhood service providers, facilitating family-friendly workplaces, and advocating for both Pinellas and Hillsborough County’s youngest in various other capacities, all alongside extensive work to help streamline collaboration among a vast network of partners and stakeholders.
We accept support from individuals, organizations, businesses, and legacy giving. To discuss opportunities to support Thrive by Five through charitable giving, contact Dr. Diana Santangelo.
GET INVOLVED AS A BUSINESS LEADER
Please fill out the form below if you would like to learn more about our Family Friendly Business Initiative and getting involved with Thrive By Five Tampa Bay.