In your opinion, what makes parent-friendly workplaces the wave of the future?
Employee preference for flexible and hybrid/remote working environments has been on the rise for some time now, even prior to the COVID pandemic. A 2019 study by the International Workplace Group found that 83% of global workers would choose a job which offered flexible working over a job that did not.
Now, in the post-COVID era, parents have experienced the pleasure of spending the majority of their time with their families, instead of with their work colleagues. The meaning and value of family has thus gained new weight amongst working parents.
We are seeing parents look for working environments which allow for a healthy work-life balance as well sufficient time for hands-on parenting. In return, organizations that implement parent-friendly policies enjoy the benefits of having highly engaged and loyal teams, such as better retention rates, job satisfaction and overall morale.
By following parent-friendly practices, organizations truly embed mission statements around Diversity and Inclusion into the company culture, creating an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds and life stages can thrive.
Personally, we’re thrilled to be part of this evolution of the workplace, which creates a more positive, healthy working environment – one that is a lot more sustainable for the long-term
Please share ONE unique parent-friendly workplace initiative that your organization is particularly proud of and has made the biggest impact on your employees.
As an environmental charity with a vision to safeguard the natural heritage of the UAE, it is important that we nurture a spirit of Innovation, Experimentation and Curiosity amongst our workforce. These values are especially important in the field of environmental conservation.
With 38 employees from 18 different countries, the personality of our workforce is naturally open-minded, and this is a trait we appreciate and encourage.
One of the ways we do this is by enabling our employees and their families to explore new places during the summer holiday season, which coincides with the peak heat period in the UAE. Throughout July and August, where work commitments allow it, our employees are encouraged to step away from their daily routine and work remotely from anywhere in the world.
This gives parents the flexibility to travel with their families. Working from abroad also instills a sense of being ‘adaptable’ and ‘solution driven,’ which are other values that we treasure at Emirates Nature-WWF. Being in a different environment, can further expose our employees to new ways of life, thus widening their horizons to new ideas.
What are some of the business benefits you have seen from being a parent-friendly workplace?
Putting in place parent-friendly practices and being recognized by our employees as a parent-friendly employer certainly brings benefits for the business.
Our employees highly value the flexibility they experience working with Emirates Nature-WWF. This applies not only to working parents, but all employees.
Being an output driven organization rather than one that clocks attendance, we give parents the opportunity to be an active part of their children’s lives. It becomes easier for parents to attend school events and after-school activities, which boosts their child’s confidence and creates resilient human beings. These are crucial traits for our future workforce.
The well-being of our employee’s children is in perfect sync with our larger purpose, which is to build a sustainable future for generations to come.
It is easier to work in an environment where people are treated with so much respect and trust, and where employees are allowed to try new things and fail mindfully. We have noticed that when our employees make the decision to leave for growth opportunities – be it financial or professional – they sometimes struggle with their new work environments. Where possible, some have found their way back to Emirates Nature-WWF.
This occurrence is testament to employee’s satisfaction with the culture and policies we have achieved here at Emirates Nature-WWF. The organization also benefits in terms of productivity; various studies have pointed towards there correlation between job satisfaction and intrinsic motivation, and therefore work performance.
