Mayor Andy Berke and participants of the Family Friendly Workplace Challenge convened a Summit to recognize businesses -- both large and small -- committed to working families. Businesses that accepted the Challenge spent the summer months engaging their employees and reviewing policies before implementing a strategy to support working families and then sharing their plans with other local businesses to foster and advocate for more family friendly workplaces.
“To be economically prosperous, we have to take advantage of everybody’s talents and abilities and give Chattanoogans every opportunity to succeed,” said Mayor Berke. “Family-friendly businesses get it right by placing importance on quality of life and helping employees reach their potential. Not only is it good for the employee, it’s good for the business.”
More than 70 employees and employers gathered today at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee to celebrate innovative policies and review ways to embrace working mothers and fathers. Following a special presentation by United Way CEO Lesley Scearce, smaller groups met to discuss family friendly initiatives employers have implemented in Chattanooga. Trust, flexible personal time and dedicated family spaces in the workplaces were cited as integral to a successful environment.
Along with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, which was among early pledges to the Challenge, around 20 Chattanooga employers participated in the Challenge, including:
Chattanooga Technology Council
STEAM Society
Economic Opportunity Working Group
MomSource Network
Vayner Media
Playcore
BCBST
City of Chattanooga
Co.Lab
UTC
Chattanooga State
EPB
Bread Basket
Tennessee American Water Company
Chamber of Commerce
Ovalle's Catering Company
Epiphany Day Spa and Brow Couture
CO.STARTERS
Skuid
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
The Family Friendly Workplace Challenge was a recommendation of the Economic Committee of the Mayor’s Council for Women, which did months of research and looked at other existing policies locally that support working women. Many members of the Mayor’s Council for Women actively participated in today’s Summit, including Chattanooga City Councilwoman Carol Berz, who is the group’s chairman.
In the afternoon, Councilwoman Carol Berz and Mayor Berke led a panel exploring how family friendly workplace policies relate to a company’s success and how challenges vary from big to small businesses and across professions. The panel addressed the importance of understanding the unique needs of employees and developing compassion in the workplace. Mayor Berke and Councilwoman Berz challenged more Chattanooga businesses to join the leaders at the Summit.
“A city is vibrant and energetic because of its people. When we’re investing in working families, we’re creating a model for businesses all over our city to thrive,” said Mayor Berke. “These employers who have committed to the Challenge are leading us to a better place and helping us build a great city.”
Interested Chattanooga employers and organizations are encouraged to take the challenge and implement family friendly workplace policies. For more information on joining the Family Friendly Workplace Challenge, visit http://connect.chattanooga.gov/family.