(Also copied on 'Going back to work' and 'Parenting' boards)
My partner and I run a fast-growing company, and we would like it to evolve as a family-friendly employer.
At the moment ? and this was unintentional, I should add ? we have no mums or dads within our team; just a couple of unattached guys who are doing a great job. We are currently recruiting again and, in preparation for having parents working with us, are exploring how family-friendly we can be to mums and dads in the team, while still empowering all staff ? with kids or without ? to do the best job they're capable of.
We have both been able to enjoy a lot of time with ds during his first years, and want our future staff to be able to enjoy as much time as possible with their newborns and young children, too. But we still need to think about getting the job done at work, and getting it done well.
So everyone/anyone ? SAHMs, working mums, dads, full-/part-timers ? what would be your idea of the ultimate family-friendly employer? What benefits or schemes or flexibility could they offer that would enable you/your partner to still do your job well yet make life easier for your family? In your experience, which family-orientated initiatives work and which don't? What is there not enough of? And what is often offered but actually doesn't help much? And can benefits for non-parents be offered too, to even it all out? You get the picture ?
A big thank you for sharing any ideas and experiences, and links to other companies you know of who've got it sussed.