HR Magazine - Who are the Top Employers for Working Families?

Thirty UK organisations have today achieved a place on the Top Employers for Working Families A-Z list and a further 12 have won a Top Employers for Working Families 2010 award, with Centrica, Deutsche Bank and The Department of Business Innovation and Skills scooping some of the top accolades.

To win a place on the A-Z list or an award, organisations had to demonstrate how they truly embed family-friendly working practices into their culture.

With 40% of the workforce having responsibilities for dependents - either children or parents - it is becoming increasingly important for organisations to recognise their employees’ personal commitments.

The list and awards, organised by work-life charity Working Families, have been uniquely validated by independent human resource centre, the Institute for Employment Studies who created a rigorous assessment process. To ensure the highest degree of integrity and professionalism, the list and awards were also judged anonymously by an esteemed panel of judges comprising Professor Cary L. Cooper, CBE, Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University Management School; Craig Jones MBE, Global Head of Diversity at Barclays Wealth; Mary Mercer, Principal Consultant, Institute for Employment Studies; and Sarah Jackson OBE, Chief Executive, Working Families.

Sarah Jackson, CEO of Working Families says: "To be included on the list or win an award requires a huge amount of dedication, forward thinking and creativity to find solutions that really make a difference to the working lives of parents, carers and their families. This year we were pleased to see real commitment and innovation in industries which traditionally have a large male workforce. This also carried through to a focus on fathers and paternity – something that is crucial as we move towards balance and flexibility for all. Huge congratulations to everyone who has been recognised as a ‘top employer for working families’.

"However, we hope that the awards will go beyond simply congratulating this year’s recipients: by raising the profile of these issues, we aim to encourage other companies to review their practices and raise the standards of family-friendly working policy across the UK. This is also about what is good for business too: organisations that recognise their employees’ outside of work commitments, can see improved performance as staff feel better valued and engaged, and therefore make a greater contribution."

"Finally, in the current economic climate, receiving a very public accolade for family-friendly working practices should not be overlooked. With salaries, bonuses and benefits all under review, an organisation that is shown to understand its employees’ personal responsibilities has a very powerful differentiator for recruitment and retention of the best talent."

2010 Awards winners

Innovation Special Award: Citi
(Special Commendation: The Co-operative Group)

Best for Flexible Working: Centrica Plc
(Second place: American Express)

Best for Maternity: Ford Motor Company
(Second place: Citi, Special Commendation: Deutsche Bank)

Best for Fathers: Centrica Plc

Best for Carers/Dependent Care Support: Centrica Plc

Best Recruitment Policy for Parents and Carers: Plinkfizz Limited

Best for Career Progression for Parents and Carers: No winner
(Special Commendation: Henmans LLP)

Best Emergency Childcare: The Royal Bank of Scotland

Best Implementation of Childcare Voucher Scheme: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Best in Financial Services Sector: Deutsche Bank

Best in Professional Services Sector: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Best in Public Sector (central government & NHS): Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

Best SME (1 – 250 employees): Chwarae Teg

Top Thirty A-Z list