The Family Friendly Workplace Certification® is a tool designed to address our goals of addressing western Wisconsin's workforce challenge while strengthening families. This trademark registered program gives employers the opportunity to earn the Family Friendly Workplace Certification for workplace practices that support families and provide financial support to early childhood education and other family supporting programs.
A group of experts in human resources and business consulting, as well as early childhood professionals, have guided the development of our Certification Matrix and established Gold, Silver, and Bronze certification levels. To achieve these levels, employers must provide minimum levels of benefits, have an array of Family Friendly practices, and make a commitment to contribute to a family supporting nonprofit(s) in their area. The certification levels and the minimum required matrix point values are outlined below.
- Gold: Distinguished employer, providing a very high level of family-friendly employment conditions and financial support of Family Supporting Nonprofits. Required matrix points: 100.
- Silver: Strongly supportive employer, providing a robust level of family-friendly employment conditions and financial support of Family Supporting Nonprofits. Required matrix points: 75
- Bronze: Supportive employer, providing meaningful family-friendly employment conditions and financial support of Family Supporting Nonprofits. Required matrix points: 50
We accept applications from employers located anywhere in Wisconsin.
Benefits
Certified employers are encouraged to utilize our logo in their recruitment and retention efforts, including utilizing our logo on their job positions. Additionally, we support internal and external communications efforts to spread the word about an employers certification.
Certified Employers also receive access to a policy library with off-the-shelf, legally-compliant policies that can be easily adopted, as well email communications with relevant news, events, and information to help them support their employees and remain competitive as they recruit and retain talent.
Process
To become certified as a Family Friendly Workplace, the employer completes our Application and Certification Matrix that documents the benefits, policies, and practices they provide to employees. The points received on our Matrix determine eligibility for, and the level of, certification.
Our current application and certification matrix is available on this page for your review. Matrix questions begin in the "Additional Information" section.
Costs
Certified employers are required to make a minimum annual contribution of ten (10) dollars per FTE through our conduit to a 501(c)3 engaged in family supporting programing. The certified employers directs which non-profit will receive the contribution, and full credit for the contribution is given to the certified employer.
Examples of non-profits who have received or are eligible to receive funding include:
- Family Resource Center St Croix Valley;
- United Way's Success by 6 Program;
- TurningPoint;
- The YMCA;
- Community Food Shelves;
- and many more.
In general, eligible non-profits need to be a 501(c)3 organization under the IRS code.
Getting In Touch
If you have questions or are interested in becoming certified, please get in touch with us on our Contact Us page.