Take Engagement Seriously: Get the Families Involved
By Vivian Wagner, special to Workplace Tribes.
You want to make your employees feel comfortable and welcome, and one element of that can be to include the families of your employees in your company's daily life and operations.
But what are the best ways to roll out the welcome mat without crossing professional and personal boundaries? It’s not always easy to involve families, but with a little creativity and innovation, it can be done.
Here are some suggestions for ways of increasing family engagement:
1. Invite them to events and activities
This seems simple, but it works. Consider inviting family members to some of your company’s parties and recreational activities. Inviting them makes them feel a part of your organization’s social life. Of course, this means having events—and not just the annual holiday party.
Pets can be part of the family too!
Think outside the box: whitewater rafting trips in the summer, skiing trips in the winter, hiking trips in local parks, and other adventures can be more fun than standing awkwardly around a punchbowl. A bonus? Such activities also go a long way toward team building and bonding amongst your employees, leading to more productivity and collaboration back in the office.
2. Create family interest groups
Think about creating activity groups, focusing on things like reading, travel, crafts, golf or other activities. Playdates for employees’ children and their parents, for example, can give employee families a chance to get to know each other.
3. Set up an open office
Spouses and high school-age children will appreciate having access to the company’s computers, network, printer and other basic supplies, especially if they’re doing job searches or launching their own businesses. You might consider setting aside a special office for spouses, partners and other family members, with a computer and some supplies available, in order to give them a place to go where they feel welcome and can get some work done.
4. Recognize anniversaries and birthdays
Many workplaces don’t keep track of important dates, even their own employees’ birthdays. If you keep a central calendar with dates, include employees’ and their family members' birthdays, and make a point out of sending cards or gifts on these dates.
5. Provide Partner Benefits
Providing domestic partner benefits is one of the best ways of being a welcoming workplace and recruiting the best employees. Work with your benefits provider to see what kinds of insurance and other benefits you can offer to non-married partners of your employees.
Even as you implement family initiatives, you’ll want to be sensitive to employees with no partners or close family members. Your goal, after all, is to create an inclusive workplace, and the more you can make all of your employees feel included, the happier and more productive your entire workforce will be.
