60 SECONDS ON BUSINESS
Being family-friendly can save money

By Dr. Drake Beil
President, Solutions Inc.

When people talk about buffing out their bottom line, they rarely consider the impact of single parents who find it hard to get motivated for their sales job because they are preoccupied with kids. What happens when a parent is able to focus on sales or, as is often the case, when she stresses out, or when her daughter gets sick? What is the cumulative cost to her, and to her business, of these "family" affairs?

Recent surveys from the Families and Work Institute have shown that 85 percent of the U.S. work force now live with family members and have family responsibilities that impact their ability to perform on the job.

Even more telling is that 62 percent of mothers with infants and toddlers are employed, 68 percent of mothers of preschoolers are employed, and 77 percent of mothers of school-age children are employed.

What can you do to improve your own business climate and become more family-friendly? Does your company offer or sponsor daycare? How about elder-care, which is becoming even more of a crisis issue since 69 percent workers have this type of responsibility? Does the company offer alternative work schedules, such as flexible time or comp time? How difficult is it to use? Is there an opportunity to telecommute, and if there is, how is supervision managed? How about an employee assistance program?

These programs are critical because, in 2001, depression alone cost businesses $47 billion in disability claims.

For more information, check out www.hawaiipsych.org for how to have a healthy workplace.

Reach Dr. Drake Beil at drake@60secondsonbusiness.