Chamber releases family-friendly workplace guide for employers

Utah Community Builders, the nonprofit social impact foundation of the Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the chamber, United Way of Salt Lake and Voices for Utah Children, has released a new resource for the business community in its efforts to elevate its culture and leadership concerning child care support. Titled “Family-Friendly Workplaces: A Guide for Utah Business Leaders,” the guide spotlights data, what to consider and actionable steps with best practices for businesses to improve their approach to child care in the workplace.

“We believe the private sector can positively impact Utah’s workforce by addressing the intersectionality of child care, employee wellness, employee retention and upward mobility,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Utah’s working parents need business leaders who are willing to elevate corporate culture by taking a comprehensive approach to the child care challenge. We hope this guide will be a helpful resource for Utah leaders in business, government and community.”

The guide suggests that businesses can start to address the issue by understanding the needs of working parents, recognizing they are not alone in this issue, taking small steps to get quick wins and cultivating strong leadership and elevating the child care culture.

“Lack of affordable child care is a massive barrier to parents’ ability to work and ultimately impacts Utah businesses and our economy,” said Bill Crim, president and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake. “As a community, we have to come together to help families with the resources that will enable them to work, and to advance their careers.” 

“When the well-being of young children is at the center of public policy and community investment, our entire state does better,” said Moe Hickey, executive director of Voices for Utah Children. “It is possible to build an early childhood system in Utah that supports families by making sure they have access to affordable and appropriate options for their children’s early care and learning — whether children spend their days at home, in formal child care, at public school or in the care of trusted family and friends. But Utah hasn’t taken the necessary steps to do so. We need to come together as leaders to do whatever is necessary to improve the status of child care in our state.” 

“Ultimately, it is up to businesses to think creatively about ways to build the child care infrastructure we need to help working parents keep working for their families, and the economy as a whole,” the Salt Lake Chamber said in announcing the release of the guide.

The guide can be accesses through the Salt Lake Chamber’s website.