The deadline for Top Employers for Working Families 2010 Awards is Wednesday 30th June.  For more info please visit: http://www.topemployersforworkingfamilies.org.uk/Organisations that implement the best family-friendly policies are to be recognised in the ‘Top Employers for working families’ awards organised by work-life balance charity, Working Families. From today, employers can visit www.topemployersforworkingfamilies.org.uk to register their interest.

Why is it important to recognise family-friendly employers?

- 40% of the workforce has responsibilities for dependents – either children or parents – and forward-thinking companies that take a holistic approach to employing their staff often get the best from them.

- In a global economy, 24/7 culture and a technological age, the typical 9-5 is not always best for companies, clients or staff: flexible working often makes the best business sense all round.

- Growing phenomenon: half the UK workforce already works flexibly (14 out of 29 million) and 95% of companies offer some form of flexible working

Award categories

The Top Employers for working families list has 15 awards categories to address different types of policy (such as paternity, flexible working, carers, emergency childcare) and to recognise the leaders within specific industries (such as retail, finance, professional services, public sector) and business sizes.  They awards will reward employers who demonstrate that policy alone is simply not enough: to get family-friendly working to take off in an organisation it is necessary to really embed it in the culture – often way ahead of actual legislation.

Sarah Jackson, CEO of Working Families says: ‘This is about what’s good for business – when personal responsibilities are met, employees can give more focus to their company or organisation. We’ve worked with organisations that have increased the productivity of their workforce by 20% by implementing family-friendly policies.  We want to recognise the employers that are leading the way.’

The call for entries closes on 30 June 2010, the shortlist will be announced in September, and the winners will be recognised at a gala lunch and awards ceremony in London in October.  The judging panel includes Prof Cary Cooper CBE, 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.