It is important to recognise employers who adjust their workplace policies to reflect a work and family balance. If there are other formally recognised awards for family friendly workplaces that we have not mentioned, please let us know. Family friendly employers include organisations that offer its employees (both men and women) working arrangements and support services providing more flexibility and work life balance for their employees. Does my organisation offer family friendly practices? Read the list of family friendly characteristics & compare your employer. 1. Flexible working hours that include negotiable start and finish times, days of work
2. Part time and job sharing opportunities
3. Provide paid parental leave
4. Offer a childcare subsidy; on site care facility or vacation care
5. Allow employees to work core or shift hours to suit their family situation
6. Offer work-from-home arrangements
7. Provide return-to-work support and training for employees eg: allow ‘phased–in’ approach to return to work
8. Provide career mentoring and coaching to retain valuable employees
9. Provide employees with more annual leave than the average 4 weeks and additional carer’s leave
10. Actively promote work life balance through company policies eg: restricted meetings no start before 9am or after 4pm
11. Provide employees with period of unpaid ‘sabbatical’ leave
12. Allow parents can bring children to work in emergencies or subsidise the cost of an emergency carer
13. Offer shorter, compressed working week
14. Offer access to an employee assistance program
15. Provide on-site or subsidise health and recreational activities for employees
16. Allow employees to extend their parental leave 
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) EOWA Employer of Choice for Women Women-friendly organisations with equal opportunity programs that recognise and advance their female workforce can brand and position themselves in the marketplace as an 'EOWA Employer of Choice for Women' (EOCFW). This prestigious citation provides significant positioning in a competitive marketplace, particularly when a company is seeking to attract the best possible talent. To view the 2007 EOWA Employer of Choice for Women List, click here. EOWA Business Achievement Awards EOWA's Business Achievement Awards focus attention on working women, and place the issue of equal employment opportunity on the national agenda. The Business Achievement Awards are in recognition of those who are at the forefront of driving change for a more equitable workplace. To view the award winners for 2006, click here.
ACCI/BCA National Work and Family Awards The National Work and Family Awards have been run as an Australian Government and business partnership since 1992. The current business sponsors are the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Business Council of Australia (BCA). They are the only national awards which focus exclusively on work and family achievements in the workplace. The Awards recognise private, public and community sector organisations with outstanding flexible working arrangements that meet the needs of the business and its employees. To find out who the winners are and what policies and initiatives these organisations have introduced to their employees, click here. | 
