From HR magazine: Check out the new definitive list of the organisations achieving success by creating flexible and engaging workplaces for parents and carers. It has been put together by Working Families, the campaigning organisation for family-friendly workplaces.  Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, explained: “Offering family-friendly policies for working parents and carers is a no-brainer. It is critical in having a fully engaged, motivated workforce. And there is an opportunity for every employer to offer something.”
And the winners are…

The Guardian continues to look at whether men or women are more affected by unemployment due to the dredit crunch this year and last. As the increase in unemployment for women is double that for men, Mary Honeyball looks at how women are affected, despite the male face of this recession.
However, if there is an up side for unemployed women, it seems like they cope better with job loss than men.

Britain’s most family friendly employers are to be recognised by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women and Equality Harriet Harman at an Awards ceremony at Downing Street today. The three companies – BT, Henmans LLP, and Achieving Quality Leads – have won a Jobs 4 Mums National Award organised by recruitment company jobs4mothers.com and Take a Break magazine.
Four out of five new mothers would like to return to work but don’t think they’ll ever find suitable working hours. The Jobs for Mums Awards were borne from a campaign …

Did you know men are still paid around 17% more than women for full time work, and 36% more for part time work? Businesses are going to have to publish figures showing the number of men and women in different pay bands, according to the Guardian. What do you think would help to narrow the gap?

The Guardian has been focusing on the issues surrounding mothers returning to work.
In a feature based on a Unicef report on childcare, Geraldine Beddell says, “Many women look at the pay gap, at their own inclination to balance, at the impossibility of two parents being distracted most of the time, and choose to work part-time, or at any rate with less zealotry. And most parents manage to cobble something together that more or less works.”
She highlights the problem where most men are unwilling or unable to change their hours, leaving women …

Direct selling gives you the chance to run a small business that is set up for you with low start up costs. Antonia Chitty of Family Friendly Working offers some advice on starting a party plan business that is right for you.
 
If you want to begin your own direct selling business, you will be able to get started with many companies for somewhere between £25 and £50, especially if you watch out for special offers. You shouldn’t have to invest more than £200 in the first week to get …

Why do you work? Most of the women I know who run their own business have a passion for whst they do, even if it is tough at times. But new research shows that some mothers are having to go back to work, due to the economic recession
www.Workingmums.co.uk found that in a survey of 505, 79 per cent were looking to go back to work or increase their present working hours due to the credit crunch. For many, this will mean that they are looking for jobs that will allow them …

Lilach Bullock is a renowned virtual PA who helps to support business people from her own office. And the successful entrepreneur is offering telephone seminars on how to set up similar ventures. She said: “These are a great way for people to find out about setting up their own VA (virtual assistant] company – which has to be attractive in the current economic climate.
“People simply dial in from the comfort of their own home and participate in the session.”
The next phone seminar hosted by Lilach, a finalist in the National …

 
Tips on what to do before maternity leave
 
If you’ve got a baby on the way you may be thinking about your options for flexible work. Here are some pointers to help you find the flexible work that will fit with your family, whatever stage you are at.
 
Star by talking to a range of mums and find out how they combine work and family. I thought going back to work 4 days a week would leave me plenty of time: I was wrong. I felt I didn’t have enough time …

Results of a Government survey in 2008, found that the majority of mums are still returning to work within the first year of their baby’s life. 50% of full time working women, return to full time employment, though half of these mums would prefer to work part time. This indicates that making such important decisions, like returning to work, isn’t unusual but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy choice or it is always made at the right time, for the right reasons.
 
Here are some tips from Sam Pringle to get …