Reconciling Work and Family

Family-friendliness in the workplace refers to attitudes, structures, practices, and ways of working that support and enable a smooth balance between work and family in different life situations. Family-friendliness is not limited to households with children – it recognises diverse family forms and family situations.

In everyday workplace life, family-friendliness is reflected in concrete flexibility, understanding leadership, and practices that support employees’ wellbeing and commitment. A family-friendly workplace does not tolerate discrimination, for example based on pregnancy or parental leave.

Family-friendliness:

• increases staff wellbeing, endurance at work, work ability, and commitment
• reduces strain and the intention to change jobs
• strengthens employer image and improves competitiveness.

Employees who are well and committed enhance workplace productivity and effectiveness.

Family-friendliness also promotes gender equality and nondiscrimination and supports equal career development at different stages of life. 

The tool helps assess the current state of family-friendliness in the workplace and identify areas for development. 

For whom: The tool is primarily intended for workplace management, HR professionals, supervisors, experts in responsibility, wellbeing at work and occupational safety, employee representatives and shop stewards, and members of equality committees. The development measures based on the tool will benefit the entire staff.
Content: The tool includes a questionnaire section (a total of 36 statements), a feedback report based on the responses identifying development needs, and five practical method cards to support the development work.
Duration: Answering the questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes. Additional time should be reserved for reviewing the feedback report and method cards, as well as for carrying out the development work.
Result: Feedback on the current state of family-friendliness in the workplace and areas for development, along with concrete methods for developing family-friendliness. The tool also provides support for integrating family-friendliness into the workplace gender equality plan. 

Go to the tool

Method Cards to Support Development Work 

The method cards of the tool contain practical examples of methods and measures that can be used to promote family-friendliness and improve workplace practices. 

Tips for Using the Tool 

• Assess the current state of family-friendliness in your workplace using the Work and Family Reconciliation Tool for the Workplace, and identify the areas where development is needed. The survey can be completed separately for different departments or job groups.
• Use the method cards to support your development work. You can proceed one theme at a time.
• Involve employees in the development process. For example, organise joint sessions for management, HR, and staff. Ask employees about the implementation of family-friendliness and related practices also in connection with equality and personnel surveys.
• Define goals and measures that promote family-friendliness and include them in the workplace gender equality plan.
• Create a schedule for the development work and assign responsibilities. Also define the indicators you will use to monitor the implementation of the measures.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the measures as part of the gender equality plan follow-up.
• Complete the tool regularly, for example annually. Introduce new necessary measures and practices based on the current state assessment and update the workplace equality plan accordingly. 

Työkalu ja webinaarisarja on tuotettu Kohti tasa-arvoista vanhemmuutta ja perheystävällistä työelämää (CARE4CAREER) -hankkeessa, jota toteuttavat vuosina 2025–2026 Työterveyslaitos, Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL) ja Mothers in Business MiB ry. Hanke saa rahoituksen Euroopan unionin Kansalaisuus, tasa-arvo, perusoikeudet ja arvot -rahoitusohjelmasta (CERV).