When reviewing benefits for a new role or an updated benefits package, the first thing working parents think about is “how will this support my family and foster my success at work?” Benefits can make a significant impact on employee performance, success, and work-life balance, creating improved outcomes for the business overall.
The corporate world continues to evolve its portfolio of supports that address the unique needs of working parents, to enable businesses and families to thrive. For employers and employees alike, it is important to remember that no single set of policies are perfect for every situation. It should and will look different at various workplaces, reminding job seekers the importance of finding a job with the right benefits for your individual family’s needs.
The good news is, there are more companies than ever stepping up to provide family-friendly benefits and more research available than ever before on family-friendly benefits that are good for both employees and the companies they work for, so the negotiating process today can center on a “win-win” approach for both employee and employer.
Assessing Your Needs
The first and vital step to assessing a benefits package is to first assess your family’s needs and priorities, such as childcare, healthcare, and flexibility. Which benefits would support your family’s needs and help you be more motivated in the workplace? Understanding these priorities before having conversations with employers will guide you in identifying the companies and benefits that align best with what matters most to you. Consider exploring the top 10 research-based family-friendly policies known to benefit both working parents and business performance to gain insights on what kinds of benefits are available. Additionally, you can see which family-friendly benefits are “standard” or “standout” for your specific industry, giving you insight into what you should expect from a potential employer’s benefits. Going into benefits conversations with a clear idea of your priorities and non-negotiables for a workplace, along with an understanding of the benefits landscape and business impact, will help you make informed decisions and negotiate effectively.
Policies to Consider
Post-COVID, 825 working parents were surveyed asking about their top policy requests and the top five requests included: 1) flexibility, 2) paid time off, 3) child care financial assistance, 4) remote work, and 5) parental leave. These benefits are a great place to start when searching for family-friendly terms in a prospective employer’s benefits package.
Flexibility enables working parents to balance work and family commitments effectively while paid time off can provide essential time for quality moments and family emergencies. For parents with very young and school-age children, childcare financial assistance can reduce the cost burden, ensuring working parents can stay in the workforce. Ever more research is showing how remote work enhances productivity and family time, while parental leave supports new parents through their transition without financial worries, positively impacting productivity, performance, turnover, and morale as a net gain for businesses.
The Business Benefit
Be prepared to talk about how the benefits you’re seeking are also a win for the company. We recommend diving into the data on the wealth of research available on HR benefits that benefit both employees and employers.
By using data-driven arguments and approaching the conversation through a mutually beneficial approach that demonstrates how family-friendly policies can positively drive business goals including attraction, retention, motivation, and more, shows potential employers that you want to work for them in a way that helps them meet their goals as well as your own. This understanding will bolster your case when advocating for the benefits that can drive your and your potential employer’s success.
The Bottom Line
Evaluating and negotiating a family-friendly benefits package requires careful preparation and consideration. Understanding your family’s unique needs, researching industry trends, and leveraging data-driven arguments, can help you effectively advocate for the benefits that matter most to you. For employers, designing effective benefits packages involves understanding employee needs and prioritizing benefits that drive business goals. Together, working parents and employers can create a supportive work environment that benefits working parents both in the workplace and at home—leading to a more engaged, driven workforce overall.
Sadie Funk is the National Director of The Best Place for Working Parents.