First 5 San Luis Obispo County is proud to announce its fifth Hands-on Hero @ Work honoree for 2022 – exemplifying what it means to be “Family Friendly” – those who help build stronger communities for all by supporting parents and providers in ways that allow them to better achieve a healthy, productive work-life balance.
When The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County realized the return-on-investment for its generous paid leave for employees, the agency continued to cultivate a culture of care for working parents. The May Hands-on Hero @ Work Honoree is an inspiring example of how organizations, both big and small, can attract and retain talent by establishing family-friendly policies tailored to their specific structure, size and set of circumstances.
As deeply as The Land Conservancy cares for and tends to the diverse landscapes in SLO County, it makes the same heartfelt effort for its 25+ employees and families. This local nonprofit has served the Central Coast for 38 years and, in that time, has discovered how incredibly worthwhile family-friendly policies and practices are to its essence as a community-centric organization that connects people to the land and to each other.
A major shift happened between 2012 and 2015, during what you might call a bit of a baby boom at The Land Conservancy, when several employees became new parents all around the same time. The organization decided it needed to offer better paid leave for its young families and, as such, started bolstering its benefit package. The Land Conservancy integrated with California’s paid family leave and medical leave programs and offers its employees up to 14 weeks of their full-time pay for a qualifying event or situation. The organization makes up the difference between what the state pays and their regular pay, giving employees 100% of their salary while on leave.
This specific policy was not in place when Kaila Dettman, who is now the Executive Director there, had her first child in 2011. She recalls feeling the squeeze of hospital bills and significant life change while trying to take her full maternity leave, even though The Land Conservancy offered other benefits. Dettman has since witnessed the many positive aspects of generous PTO and flex perks, including high recruitment and employee retention rates, especially among the management and director-level staff. While the approach requires some extra administration and paperwork, Dettman says, from a cost-savings standpoint it fits into what they would expect to pay an employee in a given year. The return-on-investment for
employees’ well-being is significant; they report feeling supported and less stressed, and all who have used the program have returned to work after their leave.
Like Dettman, the Board, Deputy Director and Operations Manager have also been instrumental in developing a culture of care for working parent-employees. The Land Conservancy allows babies and children at the office (most common when schools are closed), although remotework capabilities have reduced the need overall. It also offers comprehensive insurance plans, paid holidays and even paid time, once per quarter, for hiking at one of their properties… significant others and children are welcome!
As a nonprofit, The Land Conservancy pays special attention to spending its funds responsibly. While similarly structured organizations can’t always pay the top salaries, family-friendly policies make it possible for highly skilled individuals to remain part of the team and to thrive. Many businesses, both small and large, are learning they can’t afford NOT to offer these kinds of benefits, as they are so closely linked to a healthier community and better quality of life. We’re grateful for and inspired by the example The Land Conservancy is setting on the Central Coast!