The Business Programme ‘Success Factor Family’ as part of a sustainable family policy in Germany.

The Business Programme ‘Success Factor Family’ as part of a sustainable family policy in Germany

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Challenges in Germany:Low birth rate and demographic change

Number of births 1964 to 2008Germany

684.862

1.357.304

500.000

600.000

700.000

800.000

900.000

1.000.000

1.100.000

1.200.000

1.300.000

1.400.000

1.500.000

1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

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Challenges in Germany:Low labour force participation rate of mothers(in percent)

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Sustainable family policy

Instruments:

I Infrastructure: Expansion of childcare facilities

I Money: Targeted financial support (parental allowance)

I Time: Family-friendly working environment

through a better reconciliation of work and family life

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The objectives of the business programmeas part of a sustainable family policy

I Convince enterprises of the usefulness of a family-oriented personnel policy

I Establish family-friendliness as a management topic

I Make family-friendliness a hallmark of the German economy

Meeting of the impetus group ‘Alliance for the Family’ with Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on 16th October 2006 at the Federal Chancellery.

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‘Cost benefit analyses’, created by Prognos AG on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, 2003

The study shows that for small and medium-sized companies the cost benefits of family-friendly measures are higher than the investment in such measures.

The return on investment is up to 25% due to reduced costs relating to I recruitment I absenceI training

Family-friendliness as a business case

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‘Success factor family’

Components of the business programme

I ‘Tool-Box’ for employers: Website, Newsletter, Practice-oriented manuals

I Federal competition ‘Success factor family 2008’,Patron Chancellor Angela Merkel

I Company network ‘Success factor family’ in cooperation with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce

I Funding programme ‘Employer supported childcare’ funded by the European Social Fund (start: February 2008)

I Company Monitor: survey to examine the status quo of family friendliness in German companies and identify shortcomings(2003 / 2006 / 2010)

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Business competition ‘Success Factor Family 2008’

ObjectivesI Increase awareness of the great

importance of family-conscious personnel policy as a business case

I Present best-practice examples to motivate other employers

I Show how family-friendly companies benefit from their commitment

I 503 applicants (40 % more than in 2005)I Many eligible measures especially childcareI Awards ceremony on 29th May 2008

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Company network ‘Success Factor Family’

I Initiative by the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the President of the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK)

I Service office at the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft

I The company network offers a platform for interested companies, informs about fields of action and supports cooperation

I The network has approximately 2,400 members at present

Development of number of members

0200400600800

100012001400160018002000220024002600

J07

M07

M07

J07

S07

N07

J08

M08

M08

J08

S08

N08

J09

M09

M09

J09

S09

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Measuring effects

I Representative survey to examine the status quo of family-friendliness in German companies: 2003 and 2006 (2010)

I Carried out by the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft by order of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and the leading trade associations

I Regular monitoring: identify status quo, progress, deficits and new fields of action

Company Monitor family-friendliness

How important is a family-friendly personnel policy…

71,7

82,2

77,2

46,5

54,6

43,1

0 30 60 90

For the company itself

For employees

For managers

2006 2003

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Results after four years

I In the past four years, the business programme has made a decisive contribution to make German business more family-friendly

I These results have been confirmed by numerous studies conducted with companies

I In spite of crisis, family-friendliness remains on company’s agendas: 68 percent of managing directors do not expect a long-term effect of the economic crisis on their commitment for compatibility of work and family life

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…but there is still a lot to be done:

I 80% of Germans expect more commitment from companies to facilitate compatibility of work and family life

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Thank you very much for your attention