The new compatibility of work and family life
More and more organisations and companies are discovering the “family-friendly” approach.
In times of a skills shortage, more and more organisations and companies in Germany are discovering the subject of family-friendliness. Practical ideas on the issue have also come from politics. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) surprised everyone shortly after taking office with her initiative for a family-friendly orientation in the German armed forces. Work-life balance is also a key issue for Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Federal Minister for Family Affairs: “It will always be a balancing act, but it must become easier,” says the mother of a little boy in interviews. In the meantime many good examples are emerging among companies.
Management tandems
KfW Bankengruppe has repeatedly been awarded the “audit berufundfamilie” (“family and career audit”) certificate, for its family-friendly personnel policies. One example is part-time tandems among managers. When young parents – usually women – want to reduce their working hours, this often means the end of their career prospects. At KfW, executives can share the job of department manager.
Men and nursing
It is often the women of a family who nurse their elderly relatives. The family-owned, medium-sized company Rinn Beton- und Naturstein (concrete and natural stone) from Hesse also makes it possible for men to take on this family responsibility. The majority of people working there are men. The company explicitly offers individual solutions on working hours when an employee's relative needs nursing care – e.g. reduced hours or a period of leave.
Help in the school holidays
The IT company b.i.t. from Bremerhaven shows that family-friendliness doesn't depend on a company's size. Together with the city of Bremerhaven, the firm with just under 70 employees offers a vacation programme for children, because school holidays often create impossible situations for parents.
International Day of the Family on 15 March
