Do you know a local business that is
Family Friendly?
Maybe it’s your own!
Top 12 reasons to have a child & family friendly business…
- Get the best from your employees with a flexible workplace that enables employees to take care of their family and get their work done.
- Improved employee retention; decreased employee turnover. Employees will stay longer with employers who support their needs as parents.
- Avoid the cost to business in lost time due to work absences.
- Customers with children will feel more comfortable in family friendly environments.
- Happy customers mean customer loyalty.
- Customer loyalty means more sales.
- Giving children a healthy start contributes to a future productive workforce as baby boomers retire overthe next 20 years.
- More children better prepared to succeed in life will mean thriving, prosperous communities.
- Positive early experiences help to prevent future (expensive) problems in the community such as crime, health care and remedial education.
- You can be recognized as a Family Friendly Business and display our snazzy decal prominently!
- You could be nominated for a future Family Friendly Business Award.
- Your business will receive free marketing as we promote this campaign Coast-wide.
Is your business Family Friendly?
Some questions to consider…
Do you encourage staff to acknowledge children in a welcoming friendly manner? Do your hiring practices and policies reflect this value? Do your customers with small children feel respected and welcomed in your business? Do you have a process in place where customers can provide you with this feedback? Is your business designed in such a way that customers with small children can find a quiet place to rest or breastfeed babies? Do you have a washroom that is suitable and available for small children and change tables for infants? Does your business have easy access for strollers including ramps, automatic doors and door holders? Is there adequate and safe parking with designated spots for customers with small children? Does your business support the use of flex time, job sharing, paid time off, banked timeand break time for employees to manage family obligations? Do your employees understand and use benefits such as parental sick leave, parental leave, additional maternity leave and progressive returns after maternity leave? Do you regularly consider the needs of local families in your business plans and marketing efforts? Do you offer a small, safe play area for little ones while the parents or caregivers shop?For more information, whether you are a business owner or a customer, please contact:
Heather Evans CullenFamily Friendly Campaign Coordinator
heatherevans@dccnet.com
604 989-2204
To have your FREE Family Friendly Toolkit delivered to you, with a brief consultation on the campaign (as well as your Family Friendly window decal), please contact:
Heather Evans CullenFamily Friendly Campaign Coordinator
heatherevans@dccnet.com
604 989-2204
Being Family Friendly- Let’s make it everybody’s business.
In today’s challenging economy, it’s a relief to know that local businesses can increase their security with simple measures. It can be as simple as putting a stepping stool in the restroom, providing a comfortable place for a mother to feed her baby, or providing flexible hours to a working parent- any steps that a business takes to become more family friendly are steps in the right direction. The Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Planning Table has secured funding for a Family Friendly Campaign to assist our local businesses identify their successes and challenges in creating a welcoming environment for families and in creating a workplace that supports the work life balance of its employees.
As any parent will attest, particularly those with young children, little things like a staff person taking the time to say hello to a child, or having access to a changing table can make a big difference to how any errand can transpire. By creating a welcoming and safe environment for children, businesses’ develop customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Likewise, as any working parent knows, employers who provide family support in the form of benefits or flex time will reap the rewards of loyal employees. If a child is ill, and a parent is able to take a sick day off to be caregiver, there are enormous benefits to the child, the parent, and to the employer.
A workplace in which work-life balance is supported is more able to attract and maintain talented and dedicated employees. Many studies prove that employee retention as well as customer loyalty are benefits of running a business with Family Friendly policies. Fortunately, Coast businesses now have support to take steps toward this goal. The Family Friendly Campaign has a dedicated staff person who will visit local businesses with friendly, practical and simple ideas for building a secure customer and employee base with Family Friendly practices. Further, local businesses can share in free marketing and prestige with a brand new business award.
In March 2010, the S.C. Business Awards of Distinction will award the coast’s first ever Family Friendly Business Award to acknowledge and celebrate businesses that show progressive and positive family friendly practices with their customers and employees. If you would like more information re: the Sunshine Coast Family Friendly Campaign or the award, please contact Heather Evans Cullen at (604) 989-2204, or check out the S.C. Early Childhood Development website at www.ecdecoast.wordpress.com
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