National

Building Strong and Resilient Rural Businesses, Families, and Communities

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 from The North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) and Aaron Dawson from The Industrial Commons (TIC) in Burke County, teamed up in March at the NC Rural Center’s annual Summit to assist participants in identifying and exploring strategies to recruit and retain employees; foster high-quality productive work environments; promote talent development; and support the health…

Family Forward NC Announces First Group of Certified Employers

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 600 employees — to receive a Family Forward NC Certification. Certified employers represent workplaces across the state of North Carolina and industries as diverse as manufacturing, child care, and web design. These employers have met the certification standards outlined by NCECF’s Family Forward NC initiative by offering policies and practices that support the health an…

States Leading the Way with Paid Leave

The U.S. is the only developed country in the world without a national paid leave policy. The closest thing we have is the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1…

Parenting and Working During a Pandemic: Three Infographs

When the U.S. closed schools and began sheltering-in-place, most families and employers assumed this was a short-term arrangement. Now with the start of the new school year, parents are facing more pressure to have a long-term solution for being good employees and at-home educators and caretakers for their children. Parents are getting creative, but there are ways employers can help.

A Big Step Forward: Parental Leave for Federal Employees

More than two million American families are getting some good news in 2020. A provision safely tucked inside the National Defense Authorization Act called The Federa…

National Poll: Paid Family Leave is the Most Coveted Work Benefit

A new poll by benefits provider Unum shows that paid family leave is the most wanted workplace benefit, especially among millennials. According to a poll of 1,227 working adults, 58 percent of all workers (and 64 percent of millennials) want paid family leave from their employers, edging out benefits like flexible and remote work options (55 percent) or student loan repayment assistance (35 percent). While 88% of employers in a 2016 WorldatWork study thought they should offer paid family leave, approximately 14 percent of civilian workers in the U.S. have access to it, and accessib…

SHRM Report: Employers Nationwide Offering More Family-Friendly Benefits

Earlier this year, the Society of Human Resource Management, the world’s largest HR professional society, released its annual survey of U.S. employers about the types of benefits they offer their employees. The report included some interesting findings related to family-friendly workplaces: Retention is key. In the last 12 months, 72 percent of employers increased their benefits offerings to retain employees. These included family-friendly benefits, which are a proven way to attract and retain top talent. More organizations are offering paid parental leave. Paid materni…

National Workforce Report: Triangle, Charlotte Facing Skills Gap Despite Population Increases

Despite rapid population growth, the Triangle and Charlotte have a persistent skills gap that rank in the top 10 highest of the nation’s 50 largest cities, according to LinkedIn’s June Workforce report. The report, released today, shows that Raleigh-Durham (listed together for the report) has the 9th largest skills gap among the nation’s top 50 cities by population. Additionally, Raleigh-Durham has the 8th highest scarcity of skills, and Charlotte has the 10th highest scarcity of skills. These gaps persist despite the fact that Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte are am…

Fedweek: House DoD Bill Focuses on Hiring, Benefits, Work-Life Programs

A Department of Defense bill approved May 24 by the U.S. House orders a report on DoD’s use of telework and flexible work scheduling with a goal to expand these practices, according to a news report on Fedweek. Citing a report in the bill, the article says the Department of Defense is concerned that a “lack of professional flexibility in the civilian work force limits the ability of the Department of Defense and the military services to attract and retain highly trained mid-level career professionals. Family planning and an individual’s desire to further their education are two frequ…