Southeast Families

The Family Friendly Business Practices project encourages local businesses to explore family friendly policies and procedures that help their employees balance work and family life. Studies show that this mutually beneficial business strategy helps employers retain workers, increase employee loyalty and productivity and gain a more positive community image. The Juneau Family Friendly Employer Award is part of a trend that is sweeping the nation. Juneau is the third city in Alaska to participate in this type of recognition. The award is sponsored by Partnerships for Families and Children, United Way of Southeast, and the Juneau Chamber of Commerce.

Congratulations to Juneau’s 2007 Family Friendly Employers!

The following were cited on their “Family Friendly Profile”
Job Sharing
Staggered or flexible hours
Working from home
Time off to attend parent/teacher conferences or school events Bring child to workplace
Information provided about community support services
Changing table in office
Toy/book basket for visiting children
Breastfeeding area/accepting atmosphere
Comprehensive family insurance plan
Bulletin board postings
Paid Family leave
Unpaid family leave
Encourage employee involvement in early learning and school district issues

“On any given day, the Juneau SAIL office goes through the ebb and flow of chaos experienced at any house full of people. Mornings are often quiet, lunch time is social and afternoons can be downright rowdy. SAIL is a family friendly employer in both immediate and extended ways.

The entire SAIL office space is child proofed, and there are toys in every workspace. That is how you train the kids to come play in your office! There is one particular office that is currently the “jackpot: for visiting children because it holds all the goodies for two job sharing moms. There is a big comfy chair for breastfeeding, and a conference table for potlucks. Dogs are welcome too, even when they occasionally bark.

As staff members come and go throughout the day, everyone adapts to cover for coworkers when there is a teething baby, an ill husband, a grandson’s game, or various appointments that just need to happen between 9&5. WE are encouraged to put personal lives first where there is a family crisis, and to take the time needed regardless of leave status. When all is said and done, we come back to work more focused and committed because we feel valued.

SAIL staff members model tolerance and healthy lifestyles for the children who frequent the office. By its nature, SAIL fosters an atmosphere of acceptance and celebrating what is different about people. There is an office wide emphasis on physical and mental health, such as taking lunch time walks, eating well, participating in teams, recycling, celebrating birthdays, and sharing. As a side benefit our kids learn sign language from day 1!

And somehow amidst all this real life, we are able to get a solid amount of good work done. We love where we work!”

The following were cited on their “Family Friendly Profile”
Job Sharing
Staggered or flexible hours
Time off to attend parent/teacher conferences or school events Bring child to workplace
Information provided about community support services
Toy/book basket for visiting children
Bulletin board postings
Paid Family leave
Unpaid family leave
Encourage employee involvement in early learning and school district issues

“Don Abel is a very family oriented business. The employees are like one big family. They are very helpful when it comes to your children. If you for any reason need to bring your child into work, or leave early for your child, they are more than happy to help out. They are very understanding.”

The following were cited on their “Family Friendly Profile”
Staggered or flexible hours
Time off to attend parent/teacher conferences or school events
Working from home
Bring child to workplace
Pre tax deduction for childcare
Part time work benefits
Paid family leave
Comprehensive family insurance plan
Unpaid family leave
Encourage employee involvement in early learning and school district issues
Other: cell phones provided, Max Mertz Gold Creek Childcare board member, provided pro bono accounting services to GCCC.

Karen: “The firm has a “work is always there, family comes first” attitude from the top down. They have consistently shown flexibility to employees whose family issues have impacted their ability to work a regular 8-5 schedule by allowing flexibility in schedules and providing hardware/software so that employees have the ability to work at home. This flexibility extends to employees without children also, as they recognize that every so often there are issues/events that take employees away from work. They try to work with everyone to find what works best for them and the firm.”

Bridget: “These guys are great! I’ve worked here 11 1/2 years (2 kids age 6 and 3). The partners always include family member and kids at firm events. Last year we coordinated a rafting trip. Office and Christmas parties are great times for the kids to interact with the partners and staff. My kids love coming to the office because Mr. Rehfeld takes them in the copier and show them how to make copies of their hands.”

Additional thanks to our Honorable Mention Family Friendly employers for making Juneau’s Children Everyone’s Business!

Family Friendly Employers "Alaska's Children are Everyone's Business"

Family Friendly Employers
"Alaska's Children are Everyone's Business"