This week, senior business leaders from across the UK and Australia gathered at Australia House in London to explore how businesses can drive a global shift in family-friendly working.
he roundtable, chaired by Richard Basil-Jones of the Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by QBE, focused on the evolving role of employers in supporting working families — and how structured certification can raise standards worldwide.
The event marked the UK launch of the Family Friendly Workplaces certification, a framework first developed in Australia to help businesses embed care-conscious practices into everyday operations. Attendees heard from early adopters including QBE, Deloitte, Westpac, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, who are already leveraging family-friendly practices to attract and retain top talent, strengthen their employer brand, and future-proof their workforce.
Speakers Emma Walsh from Family Friendly Workplaces Australia and Jane van Zyl from UK charity Working Families underlined the urgent need for businesses to support employees with caring responsibilities. From enhanced parental leave to genuine workplace flexibility and care-friendly cultures, these policies are increasingly seen as essential — not optional.
With Save the Children warning of a rise in in-work child poverty in the UK, and data showing the widening gap between work and care, the certification offers a structured, evidence-based roadmap for employers looking to do more.
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