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9.01.2024

How to Identify Family-Friendly Workplaces

Little boy and little girl sitting with women in an at home office setting. Everyone is smiling

It is no secret to any working parent or caregiver that a livable wage and comprehensive benefits are necessary to support a healthy family. There are many limitations that prevent a significant number of qualified, hard working parents from joining (or rejoining) the workforce. 

When the cost of child care exceeds both in-state college tuition and rent, the income received from full-time work simply is not enough to cover the cost of living. This is particularly true for single parents, who can spend up to 40% of their income on care for one child alone. For many, balancing familial responsibilities with full-time work can seem impossible.

Luckily, a growing number of businesses are recognizing the value of investing in their employees. Companies of all sizes are rolling out innovative policies to support and retain their dedicated staff.  As workplaces begin to explore the competitive advantages of offering family-friendly policies, here are some things you can do in your job search to ensure that you are receiving the support you deserve to be your best self, on and off the clock.

Understand the benefits that work for you

Are you seeking flexible hours so you can get your school-age children on and off the bus?  Do you need access to on-site child care at your workplace to guarantee a safe place for your little one, reduce your commute, or support your breastfeeding journey? Is comprehensive medical coverage a priority for your family’s needs? 

Understanding the specifics of what kinds of support you need from your employer is essential to making the right career move for you. 

Company-paid healthcare coverage and paid time off are among the most important and commonly implemented benefits, but policies like on-site child care, better options for parental leave, and nursing support are increasing across many industries as well.

Look out for the Best Place for Working Parents Badge

Companies that have earned some sort of recognition for their family-friendly policies will often advertise it with great pride. After all, supporting employees creates a great competitive edge. 

Best Place for Working Parents is a collaborative effort between business leaders across ten states working to recognize businesses of all sizes and industries that go above and beyond in their support for their workforce. 

Click here for a current list of businesses that have received the Best Place for Working Parents designation. As you embark on your job search, explore company websites and social media pages for the Best Place for Working Parents badge or other awards and recognitions.

Know what questions to ask (professionally)

Did you receive an invitation for an interview? Congratulations! Letting your future employer know why you would be the best fit for the job is still priority number one, but consider if they would be the best fit for you too. 

Don’t be afraid to politely inquire about company culture, flexible scheduling, and remote or hybrid work. Remember, detailed questions about salary and benefits should still be saved for after you have received and before accepting a job offer.

Whether you are one of the 83% of millennials who would have to leave their job for one that offers better benefits in order to survive in today’s economy, or a member of the sandwich generation who is constantly balancing the overwhelming responsibilities of parenthood and elder care, you are not alone, and you have options.

As you search for the employer that works best for you and your family, be sure to explore the other resources within the state of Nevada that are available at no cost. 

For a comprehensive list of services that you may qualify for based on your individual situation, please visit First 5 Nevada here and click on the giant purple button.

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First 5 Nevada, a program of The Children's Cabinet, is partially supported with funding from the Administration for Children and Families Child Care and Development Fund through a subaward agreement with the Nevada Division of Social Services, Child Care and Development Program (Grant #G00996005). First 5 Nevada was initially developed with funding from the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0099, awarded to the Nevada Department of Education, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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