13 Oregon Employers Honored for Excellence in Workplace Flexibility

Family Forward Oregon and the Center for Parental Leave Leadership announce a luncheon to honor the 13 Oregon winners of the 2016 When Work Works Award for exemplary workplace practices.

The award, given by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), is the result of a rigorous assessment. Worksites must qualify in the top 20% of the country based on a nationally representative sample of employers. Applicants are evaluated on six research-based ingredients of an effective workplace: opportunities for learning; a culture of trust; work-life fit; supervisor support for work success; autonomy; and satisfaction with earnings, benefits and opportunities for advancement — all factors associated with employee health, well-being, and engagement.

Sharon Bernstein, Family Forward Oregon’s Deputy Director, applauds the winners for creating workplaces that work for today’s families:

“We are very pleased to recognize 13 Oregon employers for intentionally designing workplace cultures that reflect their employees whole selves. In today’s world it’s so important that we build an economy around the reality of people’s lives, not a fiction of the ‘ideal worker’ who has no responsibilities beyond work.”

Two employees at XPLANE, a WWW 2017 winner, happily collaborate.

 

Dr. Amy Beacom, Ed.D, Founder & CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, a Portland-based parental leave consulting and coaching firm, knows well how workplace policies like paid family and medical leave benefit employers:

“These 13 Oregon companies prove what we regularly advise companies across the country – when you actively and consciously create an environment where your employees are supported at work and at home your business success will naturally follow. Companies around the country are watching our state because we are a leader in this area. Every single one of these winners is an inspiration and gives new companies a reason to join this business shift – I can’t think of anything better.”

Family Forward Oregon and the Center for Parental Leave Leadership will recognize recipients of the When Work Works awards at a luncheon in their honor on October 19, 2017 at the White Stag building in downtown Portland.

The 13 Oregon recipients of the 2017 When Work Works Award are:

United States Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who represents Oregon’s 1st district, and will present the awards, applauds this year’s winners:

“I extend my heartfelt thank you to all of the When Work Works winners. Your leadership is making life better for your employees, and you are showing other employers that it is possible to implement policies that make a positive difference. Leadership matters, and the steps you’ve taken are building strong and healthy families and communities in Oregon.”

Bora Architects, a second-time winner, recently implemented a paid family and medical leave policy. Amy Donohue, Principal, hopes to inspire other employers to embrace workplace flexibility that recognizes employees’ personal lives:

“It is an honor to receive this award and be recognized for our flexible work policies. We consider our employees to be our greatest asset. Supporting them in their personal lives is critical so they can come to the office ready to do their best creative work. Through this national recognition, we hope to inspire others within the profession of architecture to follow suit.” 

For a national list of all 2017 winners check out this interactive map, which includes winning organizations by state.

An initiative of SHRM, the award is part of When Work Works, a national project that also shares research on what makes an effective and flexible workplace with the business community.

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About When Work Works:

When Work Works is a national initiative, led by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), to help businesses of all sizes and types become more successful by transforming the way they view and adopt effective and flexible workplaces. When Work Works is one of the foremost providers of resources, rigorous research and best practices on workplace effectiveness and flexibility in the nation. The initiative administers the prestigious annual When Work Works Award, which recognizes exemplary employers for creating effective workplaces to increase business and employee success.

  • www.whenworkworks.org
  • On Twitter @WhenWorkWorks and @SHRMPress

About Family Forward Oregon:

Our mission is to create a family-forward Oregon where all families can be economically secure and have the time it takes to care for a family. Today, too many families are forced to sacrifice one or the other. But we’re working hard to change that by engaging and partnering with parents, employers and policy-makers to create innovative, forward-thinking approaches to work and family.

  • www.familyforwardoregon.org
  • On Twitter @familyforward
  • Facebook.com/FamilyForward

 

About the Center for Parental Leave Leadership:

We believe parental leave is your most overlooked leadership development opportunity.
Our unique, evidence-based approach to the parental leave transition will help you retain and develop your key talent. Is your company ready to lead on leave?

We provide custom Parental Leave Consulting, Coaching and Manager Training, to some of the world’s greatest brands. We assist forward thinking companies – and their working parents – to navigate the complex transitional time of parental leave while maximizing its potential for development and talent retention. Our work helps companies develop their leaders at a critical moment in their personal and professional lives – and in the process grow their leadership pipeline, strengthen their position as an employer of choice, and ensure a supported, engaged, and sustainable return to work for valuable employees.