Finding a Family-Friendly Place to Work

Trying to find a job that fits your schedule and will advance your career is a difficult task for anyone, but it can be especially challenging for parents who have a full family and responsibilities at home.

For many parents, a company that offers flexibility in the schedule and an understanding that family issues come first is crucial to their happiness and sanity. While it can be difficult to figure out for sure if a company is family-friendly, there are some tells in their job postings and signs to look out for in the hiring process that show they are going to be workable to your family life.

Consider what’s important to you

Think about what schedule would be best for you. Are you happy with working overtime during the week as long as you have your weekends? Or maybe the weekends aren’t as important as long as you’re off of work by the time your kids are off of school. Think about what your ideal schedule is so you can discuss it with prospective employers.

Check their time off policy

Employers who are concerned about their employees’ ability to have a decent amount of time off and who are flexible with sick time can indicate that they value their employees’ work/life balance and can work with someone who has a family. As a parent, you need to be able to be there for your children when they’re sick or when they have off from school. Employers who give more holidays than just the main ones will probably work well with your schedule with your children.

Check the benefits

Does the company have a policy for maternity and paternity leave, or do they offer childcare options? Some companies even offer to help with adoption and IVF coverage, showing that they truly care about their employees’ happiness and family life.

Is there a telecommuting option?

More and more employers are allowing their workers to have a flexible workspace so they can work from home, which is a more appealing option for families. Giving employees the option to work at their own space shows that they trust their employees to get work completed without being in a physical office. Giving a telecommuting option to employees shows that the company respects their own schedule constraints and provides them with the ability to work from home when the need arises.