Why be certified as a Family Inclusive Workplace™?

Family-friendly workplaces benefit your people and your organisation:

Improve productivity and engagement. Effectively
embed ways of working that will unlock the benefits of
flexibility.
Elevate your brand. Use a family-friendly reputation to
enhance your ability to attract and retain the best
people.
Make your workplace more diverse, inclusive and equal.
Remove the barriers that prevent people from reaching
their full potential in their careers.
Improve the health and wellbeing of your people. Empower them to manage their home and work life to see them thrive.

It’s people who make an organisation what it is.

As a Family Inclusive Workplace™, you’ll be empowering your employees to navigate the demands of work and home life, so they can be their best selves in the workplace.

But this isn’t just a win for families, the business benefits of working in a family-friendly way are far-reaching.

The Return on Investment

Family-friendly workplaces are critical to the wellbeing of employees and their families, and they play a vital role in promoting societal and economic prosperity for all. Family-friendly policies contribute to better health and wellbeing for families and developmental outcomes for children.

Evidence shows that such policies improve workforce productivity and enhance an organisation’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain employees. Family-friendly policies also play a crucial role in reducing gender inequality.

The absence of such policies disproportionately affects women, who often bear the greater burden of caregiving responsibilities, undermining their career progression and economic empowerment. By investing in these policies, organisations can support progress towards achieving gender equality while creating environments where employees can thrive professionally and personally.

Stand out from the crowd

By displaying the badge that identifies you as a Family Inclusive Workplace™, you’ll broaden your appeal and get noticed by diverse talent seeking supportive, flexible work environments.

Boost retention

A culture that nurtures wellbeing means employees are more likely to feel engaged, leading to better participation and productivity, less absenteeism, and reduced expensive staff turnover. Plus, diversity and inclusion are proven good for business, with research pointing to above-average profitability.

Strengthen your social impact

There is a ripple effect of family-friendly working that goes beyond the workplace. As you stay competitive by continually improving, the effects of this will be felt in communities and wider society.

Bolster your brand

Reap the rewards of being seen as a leader in the sphere of family-friendly working and seal your reputation as an employer who cares.

Evidence from Across the Globe

Research by UNICEF has found that family-friendly workplace policies contribute to:

Healthier child development and stronger family units
Enhanced employee productivity and satisfaction
Reduced workplace inequalities and greater gender parity

For more insights, explore these key resources:

“Our mission is clear: to create a society where every child can thrive, and a great place to start is with the support we provide to working families. I invite more companies to join us in adopting policies that help balance work and family responsibilities, for the betterment of children, families, and our future.”

Tony Stuart CEO, UNICEF Australia

“Adequate investment in policies and workplace cultural attitudes towards employee caregiving responsibilities is emerging as one of the biggest workforce participation, engagement and productivity challenges facing business and government as they balance the need for economic growth with health outcomes and community expectations”

Emma Walsh, Founder of Family Friendly Workplaces™ Australia

“It is essential to develop a governance structure for family friendly policies and to appoint a focal point or unit within the company. Senior management ownership and support should be ensured throughout the process.”

UNICEF

“Investing in family friendly policies is good for families, businesses and economies.”

UNICEF

“‘Family-friendly policies contribute to healthier, better-educated children, greater gender equality and sustainable growth. They are also linked to better workforce productivity and the ability to attract, motivate and retain employees.”

UNICEF