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Balancing work and family life is one of the main challenges of society and the economy. The aim of the "Work and Family" audit is to support companies/institutions and organisations in developing a family conscious corporate culture. The audit thus aims on an internal process in the company, wherein the goals and measures of a family conscious HR policy are defined and also implemented. The company can thus position itself as an attractive employer and face up to the challenges of the job market more effectively. The "Work and Family" audit is a management instrument for optimising a family conscious company policy with the aim of achieving a balance between the interests of the company and the needs of the employees in the development and implementation of family conscious measures. To give a long term positioning to family consciousness within the company, concrete goals and measures are developed by means of the audit. The "Work and Family" audit is available for all sectors, and to all companies located in Austria, of all sizes (above five employees), and with all legal and corporate forms. The status quo of the existing family consciousness measures is first captured here. In the following the specific development potential of the company is analysed by means of a catalogue of criteria. The following areas of action are of vital importance:
"Family friendly" in this context means that companies adopt measures that enable the employees to balance work and family life as well as possible. Family related needs often mean caring for children or elderly members in the family. One special goal of the "Work and Family" audit is to popularise a family conscious company policy, to measure this in a standardised, company specific manner and by processes lasting at least three years, to develop within the individual company voluntary, binding measures. The certification will be done at the end of this three-year period. The traceability for the processes of development has to be shown as an important criterion of the audit process, in the annual interim reports with respect to the binding implementation plan that is signed by the top management.
Benefits for the company:
The Republic of Austria, represented by the concerned Federal Minister, awards the "Work and Family" audit certificates at an annual ceremony to companies and institutions. Companies that have successfully introduced and completed the auditing process according to the present guidelines first receive the basic certificate. This basic certificate is for the company's decision to implement the planned measures within three years. After the measures agreed upon have been actually implemented, the certificate for the "Work and Family" audit is awarded to the company. The company's participation in the "Work and Family" audit is an public interest and it is of significance to the country. It is possible to give a one-time aid per company (depending on the size of the company, at the amount of EUR 3,000 to EUR 5,000). Family consciousness will strengthen your company, the families, the economy and society. Contact persons: Ing. Anton TRAUSSNIG TÜV AUSTRIA CERT GMBH Phone: +43 (0)7242 441 77-8289
Dipl.-Ing. Othmar ZIMMERMANN |
