Family-friendly workplaces strengthen our state

Family Forward NC is an innovative initiative to improve children’s health and well-being and keep North Carolina’s businesses competitive. It is employer-led change to increase access to research-based, family-friendly practices — big and small — that improve workplace productivity, recruitment and retention; grow a strong economy; and support children’s healthy development.

Business Smart.

Family-friendly workplaces have a strong competitive advantage.

Family Friendly.

The benefits of family-friendly workplaces are numerous and long-lasting.

Future Ready.

To prepare our future workforce for success, we have to start in early childhood.

Families Have Changed.

But workplaces haven’t.

75% of moms
and
50% of dads

Seventy-five percent of US mothers and fifty percent of US fathers say they’ve passed up work opportunities, switched jobs, or quit to care for their children.Footnote # 1

According to the Federal Reserve in San Francisco, there would be 5 million more workers in the US workforce if parents had access to more family-friendly benefits.

40% of parents nationwide say they’ve left a job because it lacked flexibility.

North Carolina employers engaged

Family Forward in Action

Building Strong and Resilient Rural Businesses, Families, and Communities

March 27, 2023

Small businesses are an important and growing sector of employers, especially in NC’s rural communities. Their success rests on their ability to recruit and retain workers.  That’s why Lisa Finaldi…

Family Forward NC Announces First Group of Certified Employers

March 7, 2023

Certified Employers Represent More Than 600 Employees in Communities Across NC The North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) today announced the first 15 employers — who collectively represent more than…

New Report: Family-Friendly Workplaces Help Retain and Return Workers

February 14, 2023

A new report by the International Economic Development Council about how economic development professionals can reduce barriers to work and bring people back to the workforce features Family Forward NC…

Show 1 footnote
  1. Craighill, Peyton and Danielle Paquette. “The surprising number of parents scaling back at work to care for kids.” The Washington Post. August 6, 2015. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-surprising-number-of-moms-and-dads-scaling-back-at-work-to-care-for-their-kids/2015/08/06/c7134c50-3ab7-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html?utm_term=.bd7035932210. Return to footnote #1 referrer