SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces is excited to announce the second round of 2022 SLO County Family-Friendly Workplace Awardees. These awards are for public, private and nonprofit employers of any size on the Central Coast and seek to recognize and support organizations that adopt and implement family-friendly practices for their employees.

The award structure is designed to uplift employers working towards more family-friendly practices at any level. There are five award levels that span five separate areas:  1) Employer-Sponsored Child Care Benefits, 2) Flexible Work & Scheduling, 3) Paid & Unpaid Leave, 4) Health Care Benefits and Flexible Spending, and 5) New Parent Accommodation & Support.  

“Since we first announced the award in May and our first group of awardees, we have doubled the number of businesses receiving recognition,” says Christina Lefevre Latner, who manages SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces. “We are thrilled to see more local businesses implementing family-friendly policies like flexible time, remote work, predictable scheduling, infants at work, paid leave and insurance options.”

The newest 2022 SLO County Family-Friendly Workplace Awardees, by award level, are:

  • Bronze Level, “On the Pathway”
    • Granite Ridge Christian Camp
    • Movement for Life
    • SLO Classical Academy  
  • Silver Level, “Rising Stars”
    • Eagle Medical 
    • Idler’s Home 
  • Gold Level,  “Committed Leaders”
    • Glenn Burdette
    • SLO Food Bank 
  • Platinum Level, “Trail Blazers”
    • Lumina Alliance
    • Transitions Mental Health Association
    • Wacker Wealth Partners  
  • Diamond Level, “Distinguished Champions”
    • Astound Broadband
    • CAPSLO
    • Precision Construction Services
    • RRM Design Group
    • SESLOC
    • The County of SLO
    • The Pad Climbing
    • Wallace Group 

Employers throughout the county are encouraged to take the Family-Friendly Workplaces assessment, which serves as a tool to measure their family-friendly policies, celebrate what they already have in place, and connect them directly with personalized assistance to learn more about next steps to make their business more family-friendly. This is the beginning of a process that will work with the organization’s unique needs and ultimately make them more attractive for existing and potential workers. At the end of the assessment, businesses can opt in to receive award recognition. Applications for the next round of awardees are due December 31, 2022. Organizations can learn more and take the assessment at slofamilyfriendlywork.org.

Taking the assessment is the first step in building the connection between a business and SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces, a program launched by the SLO Chamber in October 2021. The program was built on the belief that improving culture and creating more human centric policies is essential to support business success, grow the economy, and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce. It will help businesses attract and sustain a strong, local workforce, getting more parents back to work. Any business that completes the assessment will be invited to meet with the SLO Chamber Workforce Development Manager and be provided tools and resources to further their efforts.

Employers who complete the assessment and meet the recognition criteria will receive a certificate of recognition, a SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces seal for use on the organization’s website, promotion and recruiting materials, media recognition, inclusion of the employer on the SLO Family-Friendly Workplace website and invitations to networking opportunities and special events. Additionally, a Family-Friendly Workplaces toolkit is available as a resource for all businesses. To learn more, please contact Christina Lefevre Latner, Workforce Development Manager, at christina@slochamber.org.