1. Promoting Family-Friendly Policies in the Workplace and Government

2. What are family-friendly policies?
Family-friendly workplace or employer is one whose policies make it possible for employees to more easily balance family and work
Family-friendly government policies are those laws, regulations and social policies that recognize the importance of families to society

3. Family-friendly workplace policies
Flex-time, a flexible work schedule
Job sharing, employees may share a single position, each working a fraction of the time
Allowing work away from the worksite
Employee and family health benefits, in addition to health and dental insure this may include on-site fitness centers or subsides for joining a gym
Tuition for employee education
Can you think of others?

4. Family-friendly government policies
There are two ways the government can be family-friendly:
1. Institute family-friendly workplace policies
2. The government, at any level, can encourage family-friendly policies- by laws or other methods in business and public life in general

5. Ways the government can encourage family-friendly policies
Mandating that businesses institute family-friendly policies
Using tax breaks and subsides to encourage businesses to adopt family-friendly policies
Funding and maintaining family-oriented public facilities
Encouraging family-friendly policy among public agencies and services
Mandating a health insurance plan for all families
Can you think of others?

6. Why promote family-friendly policies?
Allow parents to spend more time with their children
Reduce stress and allow more choices
Employees are more productive
Allow employees to improve their economic status and quality of life
Help employers keep valuable employees, and recruit the best
They are good for the society

7. Who should promote family-friendly policies?
Business people
Politicians and other policy makers
People affected by family-friendly policies
The media
A broad-based coalition

8. When should you promote family-friendly policies?
Employees and/or family members raise the issue
Families are having a tough time
Family issues are in the news and the public eye
Family issues are highlighted in a political campaign
During labor negotiations
During an economic development campaign

9. How do you promote family-friendly policies in the government and workplace?
Decide where to start, aim for fairness in your purpose: what's the greatest benefit for everyone
Do your homework
Particular needs of your community
Policies that have been implemented elsewhere and their results
Potential costs and benefits
Alternatives to what you're initially proposing
Offer to help find solutions that work
Point to and reward those workplaces and government agencies who support and engage in family-friendly practices
Frame the debate as a win-win situation, emphasize the fact that family-friendly policies are good for everyone

10. How do you promote family-friendly policies in the government and workplace (cont.) ?
Marshall support and communicate
If you can put together a coalition, and look to gaining the support of other influential groups:
Unions and other trade associations
Working families
Businesses and business associations
Policy makers
The media
Advocate for family-friendly policies in ways that are appropriate to the situation, some possible ways may include:
Union negotiations
Legislative advocacy
A media campaign
Direct action
Encourage the continued evaluation and adaptation of policies