Starting a Family and Job Hunting? Use These 3 Strategies to Find Family-Friendly Employers Now

Author: Joann Thelusma, Aila Birth Village

More and more, companies are adopting family-friendly initiatives, like remote work options and generous maternity leave, to ensure you and your family feel fully supported when you have a baby. However, it is uncomfortable asking about maternity leave benefits or telework options during job hunting even though you know those benefits may make or break whether you accept an offer.

You may worry that inquiring about these concerns too early could result in your job search ending before it really began. Let’s talk about how you can find a family-friendly company during your job hunt with a few simple strategies.

Become a Research Expert

You read reviews about the latest movie release, that new limited Netflix series, and the new trendy, coffee shop that recently had a grand opening. Are you reading reviews about your prospective employer? If not, you should start well before a formal job hunt.

Several websites, including Glassdoor, allow current and former employees to candidly provide their thoughts about specific employers. Looking for an even deeper analysis of the company? See if they are featured on Fairy God Boss, a crowdsourcing website that allows mothers to review former and current employers. You’ll find everything from reviews of maternity leave benefits to pay insight.

Read the reviews and note anything that might impact your family. Did a former employee remark that their work schedule was too rigid? Did a current employee rave about the company’s childcare center? This information can tell you quite a bit about the company’s culture, mission, and values.

Take a few minutes and look at their social media accounts as well. You can determine if the company aligns well with your needs by what they post. For example, if their social media celebrates that an employee recently completed a 10K race, this indicates that they encourage their employees to have a work-life balance. If their social media highlights that they have a childcare center on site, it may tell you that they understand that parents may want the convenience of having their children nearby. Ultimately, you want to find an employer that will embrace and support you as a parent and person.

Finally, talk to your family and friends about their former and current employers. Who better to give you the full picture than your loved ones? Ask them about the benefits their employers provide. Talk to those who have children to learn about their experience. Is their company understanding when they have to leave relieve their childcare provider? Is their company open to telework options when they have to stay home with a sick child? Use the resources around you to get the real deal.

Become Observant

When researching a company, whether or not they are family-friendly can be revealed in the details. When walking around the building, did you notice a designated nursing mothers’ room? While talking to a prospective colleague about their experience with the company, did she mention that she is able to work non-traditional hours to care for her toddler?

All of this information can tell about whether the employer values families and the family experience. Take the time to listen and take notes. You may discover that the employer is not as family-friendly as you prefer or that they will go above and beyond for their employees in that area. Either will tell you a lot about what the company represents.

Become Inquisitive

You have just received an offer and still are not sure the company is a family-friendly employer. Now what? It’s time to talk to someone in the Benefits department. When reviewing your benefits options, try to learn as much as possible.

Still figuring out your childcare options? Ask the Benefits representative if flexible work schedules are part of the package. Considering an obstetrician who only accepts certain insurances? Verify that your employer offers this insurance. Ask about the leave options available to you as an employee to ensure maternity leave is valued by the company.

Your family is important.

If you are planning to conceive or are already pregnant, having a family-friendly employer can be such a relief as you plan your future. Do your due diligence and research as much as possible. You deserve an employer who respects your role as a parent.