Liz Morris will speak at the Working Families Conference on 4th March 2010 hosted by Deloitte
Working parents: engaging and developing
mothers and fathers
Over recent years employers have taken huge strides in trying to stem the tide of women leaving employment to start a family. Changes to maternity rights, the right to request flexible working and the introduction of paternity and parental leave has made the workplace a much more attractive place to return to after maternity leave.
But maternity return rates are not the whole story: the real business case is based on long term skill retention. Employers are still experiencing an enormous brain drain as women find that their careers stagnate, that their talents are unrecognised, that the logistics of juggling caring needs and work priorities provide insurmountable barriers and that the workplace culture does not reflect or support 21st century lives.
And it is not all plain sailing for fathers, either. Many fathers want to play a more pro-active role in caring for their children, but are finding their needs are not met. While legislation has made some small concessions to recognizing fathers’ expectations, the divide between what mothers and fathers are offered is pronounced.
With all employers focusing on the size and quality of their workforce, it is now more important than ever to ensure that they harness the potential of their employees. They need to ensure that their employees’ skills are not under utilized, that working practices facilitate productivity rather than hamper it and that workplace cultures support employees’ expectations and engender loyalty and motivation.
At this conference we will look at how engaging and developing mothers and fathers goes beyond the maternity and paternity package you offer. Some of the issues we will look at include long term retention, career progression and talent management, and how to engage with managers to ensure a workplace culture that values all its employees.
For more information or to book a place contact Working Families on 020 7017 0066 or email events@workingfamilies.org.uk
