Parents At Work

We are so proud to work with HESTA to bring their employees the HESTA Family Hub – a comprehensive platform offering resources such as webinars, podcasts, and toolkits to support working carers at all stages. HESTA’s commitment to creating a culture of well-being and belonging is inspiring, and we’re proud to support them! Do you want to find out how you can benefit from a Work + Family Solutions program like HESTA? Enquire now: https://lnkd.in/dhpKyxBT

Why does a caring workplace culture matter? Carers provide an estimated $80 billion in unpaid labor each year, but their contributions are often overlooked and devalued. With Australia’s aging population, the demand for caregiving is rising, and that means how we manage work and care is in all our interests to solve for. Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work, presented at global insurer TAL Australia and shared eye-opening insights about the urgent need for businesses to support carers. Key takeaways include: ➡️ 75% of carers are in the workforce, but many feel unsupported. ➡️ 1 in 4 carers is considering leaving their job due to caregiving pressures. ➡️ Companies with family-friendly policies see higher employee engagement and retention. The National Work + Family Standards, developed by Parents At Work and UNICEF Australia offer a framework for employers to create inclusive workplaces that support employees and their families with care responsibilities. Find out how: https://hubs.la/Q02Vl8v50 Read more Emma's highlights on caring workplace culture, offering flexible work options, and starting conversations about ways to bridge the gap between work and caregiving commitments: https://hubs.la/Q02Vlfh20 Learn more about how we can support your people to thrive at work and home. Speak to our team info@parentsatwork.com.au #CarersWeek #FamilyFriendlyWorkplace #EmployeeWellbeing

📢 The 2024 Carer Wellbeing Survey Results Are Here 📢 Carers Australia has released the results of the 2024 Carer Wellbeing Survey, which shares the experiences of over 9,000 Australian carers. These findings underscore the challenges faced by carers and highlight opportunities for better support and understanding. Key Takeaways: 1. Health and Wellbeing Struggles: 57.7% of carers reported low levels of wellbeing, more than double the rate of the average Australian adult. Alarmingly, only 17.2% of carers described their health as good or excellent, compared to 45.9% of other Australians. 2. Loneliness Crisis: 40.3% of carers were often or always lonely, compared to just 13.8% of Australian adults. Loneliness is deeply tied to wellbeing, with carers who are often lonely being four times more likely to report low levels of wellbeing. 3. The Need for Family-Friendly Workplaces: Workplace support plays a pivotal role in carer wellbeing. Carers who have supportive employers are significantly more likely to have healthy levels of wellbeing and lower rates of psychological distress. Yet, 21.8% of carers feel their employers do not understand their caregiving responsibilities. Let’s take these findings as a call to action for all employers: the need to support carers in the workplace has never been more urgent. By creating flexible, inclusive, and supportive work environments, we can improve the wellbeing of carers and, in turn, those they care for. TAKE ACTION: Benchmark your policies and see how your workplace measures up: https://hubs.la/Q02TNCGV0 #CarerWellbeing #SupportCarers #FamilyFriendlyWorkplaces #CaringForCarers

In honour of National Carers Week Australia (13 -19 October), we recognise the incredible work of Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid carers. This week is a time to appreciate and celebrate the selfless contributions they make to families, workplaces, and communities every single day. As Australia’s population ages, the demand for carers is on the rise. This situation affects all of us—not just those directly providing care. There is a growing need for businesses to support employees who balance work with their caring responsibilities. Now more than ever, employers must step up and take action to ensure workplaces are inclusive and flexible for carers. By creating a family friendly workplace, businesses can make a real difference in the lives of their employees. Let’s continue the conversation on how we can support the millions of carers in Australia. Read more now and join us in advocating for workplace solutions that benefit carers and their families: https://hubs.la/Q02Tzv4q0 #NationalCarersWeek #CarersWeek #SupportingCarers #WorkLifeBalance #InclusiveWorkplaces

It’s OK Not to Be OK An estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss before 12 weeks, yet many still feel isolated in their grief. We are proud to be long term partners with The Pink Elephants Support Network. We are grateful for the incredible resources and support they provide our member community. This October, during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we are joining Pink Elephants to spread the message that "It's OK not to be OK." No one should walk this journey alone. Whether you're grieving a miscarriage, facing pregnancy after loss, or supporting a loved one through these challenges. Let's break the silence. Reach out, connect, and know that your feelings are valid, no matter where you are in your healing process. #ItsOkNotToBeOk #PregnancyLossAwareness #MiscarriageSupport #PinkElephants

Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) Sets High Standards for Family-Friendly Policies in the Legal Sector NRF is evolving its workplace policies to better support families, ensuring flexibility and inclusivity at every level. With the launch of the ParentKit App, the firm offers vital guidance for parents during their parental leave journey. From extended 26-week gender-neutral parental leave to fertility, pregnancy loss and miscarriage leave, and support for foster care arrangements, NRF is paving the way for a more inclusive future in the legal sector. Chief Executive Partner Alison Deitz knows firsthand how legal workplaces have changed for working parents. From being among the first at the firm to take parental leave and push for breastfeeding facilities, Alison is now leading initiatives to make it easier for all parents to balance their personal and professional lives. The launch of the ParentKit App is an exciting development, providing resources for parents before, during and after returning to work from parental leave as well as supporting well-being and providing executive coaching. Want to know how your organisation can benefit from the ParentKit App? Read more now: https://hubs.la/Q02Qd7ZH0 #ParentalLeave #FamilyFriendly #DadsAtWork #LegalSector

Today is R U OK? Day It’s a day dedicated to encouraging meaningful conversations with those around us. By simply asking “Are you okay?” and listening, we can help break the stigma surrounding mental health and offer support to those who might be struggling. How can you get involved? - Reach Out: Check in with colleagues, friends, and family. A genuine conversation can make a huge difference. - Listen: When someone shares, listen with empathy and without judgment. - Share Resources: Direct them to helpful resources and support networks, like RUOK’s official website: https://hubs.la/Q02PDwn00 - Encourage Regular Check-ins: Make it a habit to have these conversations, not just on RUOK Day. Remember, asking if someone is okay is not just a question, it’s a powerful way to show you care. Everyone deserves to feel heard and supported, and sometimes, just knowing someone is there can be incredibly comforting. For more resources head to: https://hubs.la/Q02PDD8r0 #RUOKDay

As we wrap up the week after Fathers Day we’ve been busy taking steps to break down barriers to dads taking parental leave and fully participating in caregiving. Today we hosted an important discussion on the persistent barriers preventing men from taking parental leave and the critical role employers play in creating an inclusive environment where men feel empowered to take parental leave. "I learned so much about myself, my wife, and my daughter. By not taking parental leave, I wouldn’t be as good a dad now as I feel I am.” ." - Nic Hamley,  Ansvar Insurance Australia. Normalising parental leave for fathers benefits not only families but also workplaces. Leaders such as Deloitte, are taking concrete steps to shift workplace culture and demonstrate the positive impacts on retention, employee satisfaction, and long-term gender equality. Want to know what best practice looks like? Download our Best Practice Parental Leave White Paper now: https://lnkd.in/gyAzTn4z In our podcast, we dive deeper into the challenges of parental leave for dads. The podcast highlights a key point: removing labels like “primary” and “secondary” carers. This label often sidelines dads, but changing this mindset empowers parents and organisations. Don't miss the snippet of the insightful episode below: #dadsonparentalleave #genderequal

Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work and Founder of Family Friendly Workplaces took part in a crucial panel discussion today at the Women's Health and Wellbeing Summit by Women's Agenda. Alongside Samantha Payne and Sonita Giudice, the panel focused on addressing pregnancy and miscarriage in the workplace, highlighting the importance of supporting employees during these times. Employers have a crucial role in creating an ecosystem that supports their employees in both work and home life. Since the launch of the National Work & Family Standards with UNICEF Australia, organisations have the tools to benchmark themselves against best practices. Yet, there's still much more work to do, particularly in securing greater government investment in paid parental leave and educating employers on the benefits of offering family-friendly provisions. Recent findings from the 2024 National Working Families Report highlight just how vital these provisions are: 1 in 2 women struggle with their mental and physical health due to competing work and family pressures. Many employees feel their job commitment is questioned if they use family-friendly provisions. It's also crucial to recognise that different cultures approach family care and workplace dynamics in diverse ways, which requires a deeper understanding of cultural variations and sensitivities when designing support systems for employees. Tailoring family-friendly provisions to accommodate cultural differences not only benefits employees but also helps to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment. "Research tells us employees want to work for an employer who cares about their work-life wellbeing needs. When care and wellbeing needs are most pronounced during challenging times like pregnancy loss, this matters more than ever." - Emma Walsh We also want to recognise the incredible efforts of Samantha Payne and her team at The Pink Elephants Support Network for advocating for miscarriage and early pregnancy loss support. Thanks to their dedication, Australian women and their families now have stronger leave provisions, and employers are becoming more aware of how crucial it is to support pregnancy loss in the workplace. Take the free benchmarking assessment to see where your organisation stands against the National Work & Family Standards: https://hubs.la/Q02NyyRz0 Angela Priestley Tarla Lambert-Patel   #worklifewellbeing #parentalleave #employeewellbeing #pregnancyloss

New report: Championing the Diverse Realities of Australian Families The recent release of the Uniting Families Report 2024 reveals the incredible diversity of family life across Australia. With 73% of respondents agreeing that “Australian society does not adequately support families in their various forms,” this report underscores the critical need to recognise one size doesn’t fit all and we need an adaptive approach to policy design, laws and systems to ensure people aren’t left behind. "As a nation, we must rethink our approach to support families," the report states. The Uniting Families Report 2024 is the first in a 10-year series of reports that seeks to explore family life in Australia, especially the families in which children and young people are being raised. Key findings include: - 65% of single parents report financial insecurity. - 54% are concerned about work-life balance. - 60% of respondents highlighted the lack of affordable childcare. - 40% of families reported challenges in accessing mental health support. Download the report here: https://hubs.la/Q02NkVks0 Congratulations on your work Tracey Burton, CEO of Uniting to you and your team and your partners at UNSW. Anat Hassner and Kristal Kinsela #Diversityequityandinclusion #InclusiveWorkplaces #FamilyFriendly #UnitingForFamilies