A groundbreaking certification scheme designed to boost workplace flexibility and employee wellbeing has launched in the UK, providing businesses with a clear, evidence-based framework for assessing and enhancing family-friendly employment practices.
The Family Friendly Workplaces certification, spearheaded by global initiative Family Friendly Workplaces in partnership with leading UK charity Working Families, is designed to establish new benchmarks for workplace inclusivity, employee satisfaction and overall business performance.
The scheme builds on four successful years in Australia, where it has helped over 650 organisations improve their family-inclusive policies. The certification arrives at a critical moment, responding to a rising need for policies that support employees in balancing their professional and family lives, particularly amid ongoing economic pressures and the cost-of-living crisis.
UK Government Welcomes the Initiative
The certification has received strong backing from Minister Justin Madders, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade. The minister said employers adopting family-friendly policies not only enhance workplace environments but also significantly improve their ability to attract and retain talent, boost productivity and contribute positively to the wider economy.
“We’re taking action to support workers and businesses by helping more people stay in work, improve their financial security, and contribute to the economy through our plan to Make Work Pay,” he said. “But legislation can only go so far. Real change happens when employers take the lead, shaping workplace cultures that enable people to thrive.”
Prominent UK Firms and Charities Back Certification
Several major UK employers have endorsed the Family Friendly Workplaces certification, including founding partners Deloitte UK and TLT LLP, alongside supporting partners such as Grant Thornton UK, Norton Rose Fulbright, dentsu, Kantar and QBE Europe.
Jackie Henry, managing partner for People and Purpose at Deloitte UK, pointed to the business benefits of implementing robust family-friendly policies. Deloitte recently introduced a policy offering 26 weeks’ fully paid leave for all parents, reflecting a commitment to support workers in balancing family life with their careers.
“There is growing recognition of the importance of family-friendly policies and their role in driving positive societal change by supporting working parents,” Henry said. “We’re proud to champion this certification as a benchmark for others.”
Helen Hodgkinson, chief people officer at Bristol-based law firm TLT LLP, noted that family-friendly policies were no longer optional but essential in today’s competitive marketplace. “In an era where people expect more from their employer, any business that fails to listen to their people is frankly taking a substantial risk and will lose out on talent,” she said.
Advocacy partners including Adoption UK, the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse, Kinship, Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the National Childbirth Trust and The Fostering Network have also joined forces to champion the certification’s wider social aims.
Certification Framework and Global Standards
The Family Friendly Workplaces certification provides employers with an evidence-based framework known as the Global Work + Family Standards, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This structured approach empowers businesses to assess their current policies, identify areas for improvement, and implement effective, measurable enhancements.
By aligning with global standards, certified employers join a worldwide movement aimed at driving positive social and economic change through workplace inclusivity and flexibility.
Significant Benefits for Employees and Employers Alike
The certification directly addresses critical challenges faced by employees, such as managing caring responsibilities, maintaining job security and achieving better mental wellbeing. It also seeks to tackle societal issues, including rising in-work child poverty, by fostering workplace cultures that support families effectively.
Businesses adopting family-friendly practices report substantial gains in productivity, retention and employee engagement, research shows. A study by the University of Birmingham revealed that 76.5% of managers found flexible working improved overall productivity, while 54% cited flexible working as crucial to attracting new talent.
Working Families CEO Jane van Zyl said the certification filled a critical gap in helping companies understand how to create genuinely supportive workplaces.
“For too long, businesses have lacked a clear, evidence-based framework for what truly makes a workplace family-friendly,” van Zyl said. “By giving employers the tools to assess, improve and embed family-friendly policies, we’re helping to create workplaces where parents and carers can thrive at work whilst fulfilling their caring responsibilities.”
Future-Proofing Through Workplace Flexibility
Beyond addressing immediate family responsibilities, the certification encourages employers to prepare for the longer-term needs of an ageing population, such as elder care and sandwich caring responsibilities. This ensures organisations remain resilient and adaptable as workforce demographics evolve.
Emma Walsh, CEO at Parents at Work, emphasised that family-friendly workplaces are essential for both economic resilience and social equity.
“With this certification, we are setting a new standard for what it means to be an employer of choice,” Walsh said. “By prioritising family-friendly policies, businesses can improve retention, boost productivity, and contribute to a stronger, more equitable society.”
UK businesses are now encouraged to undertake a free self-assessment to evaluate their family-friendly policies against the Global Work + Family Standards. Successful organisations will gain formal recognition as Family-Inclusive Workplaces, helping them demonstrate their commitment to employee wellbeing and family support.