Now in their 10th year, Working Families’ Best Practice Awards showcase and celebrate employers that are offering flexibility for all their people and going above and beyond in their support for parents and carers. Employers from a diverse range of sectors from across the UK competed to catch the judges’ attention in 12 categories, with HR magazine a media partner for the awards.
Jane van Zyl, chief executive of Working Families and chair of the judging panel, commented: "Flexible working isn’t just good for parents and carers; it’s good for business. Employers reap valuable rewards when they give their staff members more control over their time – from improved employee engagement to better organisational performance.
"Our research shows an unmet demand for flexible working. Eighty-six per cent of parents want to work flexibly but less than half (49%) actually do. Initiatives like those on the shortlist are key to helping parents take control of their time and find the work/life balance that works best for them.”
The shortlisted organisations are:
Best for Mothers
Barclays
FYXER
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Mum & You
Best for Fathers
Response IT
Deloitte
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Best for Carers and Eldercare
Barclays
Centrica
Best Flexible Working Initiative – sponsored by NHS Employers
MHA Larking Gowen
Suffolk County Council
Global Witness
Best for Embedded Flexibility – sponsored by Arnold Clark
Freestyle
Deloitte
Morgan Sindall
Best for Flexible Recruitment
Suffolk County Council
Arnold Clark
Best for Line Manager Support
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Best Innovation – sponsored by ILF Scotland
Waltham Forest Council
Arnold Clark
Best Returner Programme – sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada
Barclays
Allen & Overy
Morgan Sindall
Natwest Markets
Best Family Network
Barclays
Royal Bank of Scotland
Sky
Best for Mental Health & Wellbeing – sponsored by Schroders
Deloitte
QBEInsurance Group
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Financial Ombudsman Service
Best Small Private Sector Employer
Response IT
9-2-3 Jobs
Slalom