Is your business child and family friendly?

Coastal Eyecare was thrilled to receive the 2010 Family Friendly Business of the Year for 2010. Since that time we have been asked questions such as, “How did you create a Family Friendly business” and “What can I do to make sure my business is Family Friendly?” I realized that many businesses are unclear as to what makes a business Family Friendly. After being asked these questions many times, I thought it made sense to make it clear, because this is so critical to our community and its future. In the words of Mr. Charlie Coffey, “Whether you are a big business or small, children are everybody’s business”.

Employee Policies and Programs	Atmosphere	Customers and Clients	Community Involvement
Flexibility · flex time · job sharing · paid time off · banked time • break time for employees to manage family obligations	Accessibility · easy access for strollers including ramps, automatic doors and door holders · adequate and safe parking · parking spots designated for customers with small children	Marketing • consider the needs of local families in your business plan and marketing efforts	Support local children’s programs · Do you or your staff volunteer with local children’s programs - on a board of directors or during fundraising efforts? • Financial and in-kind donations to local programs
Advocate · be aware and support government polices that support parents of young children • learn about national, provincial and municipal policies re: child care, employment standards and parental benefits.	Physical Amenities · quiet space for children to rest · breastfeeding friendly · washroom suitable and available for small children • change tables for infants		Customer Service • encourage staff to acknowledge children in a welcoming, friendly manner • hiring practices and policies that reflect values • do your customers report feeling respected and welcomed in your business? • provide opportunities for customer feedback
Benefits • do your employees understand and use benefits such as parental sick leave, additional maternity leave and progressive returns after maternity leave?	Play Space • safe, designated play area for small children • stocked with clean, safe and cared for materials • booster seats, high chairs, small play furniture

 

Top 10 reasons to have a Family Friendly business…

1. Get the best from your employees with a flexible workplace that enables employees to take care of their family AND get their work done.
2. Attract and retain good employees in times of skill shortage. Employees value employers who support their needs as parents.
3. Avoid the cost to business in lost time due to work absences.
4. Customers with children will feel more comfortable in family friendly environments.
5. Happy customers mean customer loyalty.
6. Customers loyalty means more sales.
7. Giving children a healthy start contributes to a future productive workforce as baby boomers retire over the next 20 years.
8. More children better prepared to succeed in life will mean thriving, prosperous communities.
9. Positive early experiences help to prevent future (expensive) problems in the community such as crime, health care, and remedial education.
10. You could win a Child & Family Friendly Business Excellence Award.


Unsure if your business is family friendly, Contact us

It takes a community to raise a child.