Better Balance, Better Business - Where Are You Now?
If you’re a woman running your own small business, our guess is you probably already have a strong commitment to providing work and family balance. In fact, you are probably already doing a lot of things to help your employees balance their work and family commitments.
The staff at Copy Crew enjoy a family friendly workplace. Photo: Gabriella Favretto.
These practices might come so naturally to you that you haven’t even thought of them as ‘family friendly practices’. Our quick quiz below will help you to identify what you might be taking for granted.
How family friendly is my business?
How many of the following describe your business well?
1. My employees have the option of flexible work-times; I know they’ll get the work done.
2. I’m open to considering different employment options that suit my employees and my business, such as part time and job sharing.
3. I’m flexible about the reasons my employees take leave and how they take it.
4. My employees approach me for help when they need to meet out-of-work commitments.
5. My employees know that when considering their requests I try to strike a fair balance between their needs and those
of the business – they know if I have to say no it’s not personal and I don’t play favourites.
6. My employees’ families feel welcome at my business.
7. My employees and I encourage each other not to work ridiculous hours.
8. I try to make the workplace a family friendly space.
9. I provide the best possible maternity leave conditions I can afford.
10. My employees know what’s on offer to help them and my customers know that my policy is to be a family friendly workplace.
How did you score? (Give yourself one point for each 'Yes' answer)
If you scored 7 - 10
Well done, you’re a family friendly star! This booklet might give you some extra ideas to enhance your practices and promote yourself as a family friendly employer.
If you scored 4 – 6
You’re well on the way. This booklet should help you to improve the family friendliness of your business.
If you scored 0 – 3
Good on you for picking up this booklet! You can now take the first steps toward creating a more productive workplace.