Section One: Paid Leave
- Paid personal leave (PTO/sick leave)
- Paid parental leave (includes maternity and paternity leave and/or secondary caregiver leave)
- Paid family leave (e.g., caring for aging parents, children, domestic partner)
Pick your level. Earn your badge.
The Business Champions Award celebrates employers at every stage of the journey.
The Business Champions Award is a way to differentiate your company and showcase it as a place where employees are supported. Family-friendly workplaces attract and retain employees by creating a workplace that cares about their needs and the needs of their families. Policies that promote work-life balance increase employee productivity and loyalty and have a positive impact on entire communities. The adoption of family-friendly policies creates value for employees, employers, and the local economy by increasing completion of postsecondary education; raising labor force participation; increasing workforce productivity; and helping businesses attract and retain talent. Family-friendly workplaces build human capital across generations, to help ensure a prosperous and sustainable Tampa Bay.
Bronze
Recipients must meet at least two family friendly policies in the first four sections to receive information and educational materials to help them continue progressing on the path to a more family friendly business.
Silver
Recipients must meet any three family friendly policies in at least 2 of the first four sections to receive the family friendly business award seal that they can use in their business materials and promotion.
Gold
Recipients must meet at least one family friendly policy in each of the four categories to receive the family friendly business award seal that they can use in their business materials and promotion.
Platinum
Recipients must meet at least two family friendly policies in each of the first four sections plus one policy in each of the three Platinum level sections to receive the family friendly business award seal that they can use in their business materials and promotion.
Diamond
Recipients must meet all of the Platinum Level criteria as well as the following:
- Offer a minimum paid leave annually: 15 days PTO and/or sick leave
- Offer a minimum of 20 business days paid parental leave (maternity and/or paternity leave) in addition to paid personal leave
- Offer a minimum of 20 business days paid family leave (e.g., caring for medically ill or aging parents, children, domestic partner) in addition to paid personal leave
- At least every two years, assess employee satisfaction (e.g. employee feedback opportunities, employee surveys)
- Provide 2-3 staff testimonials (up to 250 words each including the employee's role and first name only) showcasing how your family friendly policies have impacted them as employees.
Once these criteria are met, recipients will receive the family friendly business award seal that they can use in their business materials and promotion.
How awards are scored
Family friendly policies sections
Award selection is based on the following family friendly policies sections:
Section Two: Health Support
- Healthcare insurance for our employees (employer subsidized healthcare insurance)
- Healthcare insurance for our employees' immediate family (employer subsidized health insurance)
- We offer wellness programs (such as wellness assessments, screenings, education, health coaching, organized wellness activities, onsite preventative care such as immunizations, interventions such as smoking cessation, incentive and/or paid time off for wellness activities).
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Section Three: Work Flexibility
- Flexible work scheduling (such as 4 10-hour days or other adjustable scheduling)
- Job Sharing (such as two or more part-time employees sharing one full-time position)
- Remote or hybrid work locations (work from remote location at least some of the time)
- Predictable scheduling (e.g., providing at least two weeks' notice of work schedules and/or premium pay for changes in work schedules made with short notice)
Section Four: Economic Support
- At least every two years, we assess our employee wages, and either match or offer higher than average wages for our industry.
- Employee professional development.
- Continuing education tuition assistance.
- Employer-supported retirement/asset building to build long-term wealth (e.g., 401(k), 403(b) plans.)
- Childcare tuition assistance or on-site childcare and/or dependent care (such as for aging parents).
- Employer supported short-term financial stability options (e.g., small-dollar lending with repayment available via payroll deductions, access to financial capability training/coaching, etc.)
Section Five: Pay Equity
Platinum only
- At least every two years, our business/organization formally evaluates pay by job classification and gender
Section Six: Access & Opportunity for All
Platinum only
- Do you have policies related to access & opportunity for your staff and/or board?
- Do you have goals related to access & opportunity in your hiring process?
- If applicable, do you have goals for board membership variety?
- Do you have any programs or employee networks for any of the following: race, gender, age, veterans, disability, parents, LGBTQ+, other?
- Do you provide training to your employees on healthy work environments such as constructive practices, healthy team dynamics, conflict resolution and/or cultural competency?
Section Seven: Community Investment
Platinum only
- Do you have policies related to supporting employees investing time and/or money in our/their community?
- If your funding entity does not allow for paid volunteer time during work hours, does your organization promote and support opportunities for staff to engage with the community outside of work hours or as a part of your employees' job description?
- Do you offer employer-matched donations to non-profits?
Section Eight: Diamond Tier
Diamond only
- Do you offer a minimum of 15 days PTO and/or sick leave annually?
- Do you offer a minimum of 20 business days paid parental leave (maternity and/or paternity leave) in addition to paid personal leave?
- Do you offer a minimum of 20 business days paid family leave (e.g., caring for aging parents, children, domestic partner) in addition to paid personal leave?
- Do you assess employee satisfaction (e.g. employee feedback opportunities, employee surveys) at least every two years?
- Provide 2-3 staff testimonials (up to 250 words including the employee's role and first name only) showcasing how your family friendly policies have impacted them as employees.