Business and Family-Friendly Policies – An Evidence Brief by UNICEF

UNICEF has published a brief that explores the role of business with regard to family-friendly policies. Employment policies can vastly impact the well-being of both workers and their families. The extent to which working parents are able to reconcile work with family responsibilities is increasingly recognised as influencing their ability to provide and care for their children. This is particularly the case for workers in vulnerable situations and low-income families, where children may be at particular risk of being deprived of basic rights and access to essential services. Any discussion on family-friendly policies should therefore consider the impact and influence that businesses, as employers, have on the issue.

The brief seeks to understand relevant family-friendly workplace policies for businesses and employers, and the key drivers for business action on family-friendly policies. It summarises evidence from literature, as well as new findings from a forthcoming UNICEF global survey of business on family-friendly policies. Acknowledging the gaps that exist in the literature, this brief concludes with recommendations for both governments and businesses to strengthen the adoption of family-friendly business policies.

Download the document below.