The Business of Contracting – 10/27: Register Today!
Continuing education is key to improving your skill set. Join us on Friday, October 27 for a day focused on you, the contractor! Enhance your knowledge and refine your business skills with experts speaking on pricing, sales, finance, succession planning, marketing, and employee recruitment. Our supplier partners will round out the day demonstrating solutions that fit your business.
Embracing Family Friendly Benefits
In today’s work environment, the line between personal and professional life is becoming increasingly blurred. As a result, employees are seeking more comprehensive benefits that accommodate their family responsibilities and foster a healthy work-life balance. More employers today have begun to understand that an expansion of family-friendly benefits above and beyond federal law requirements is a key facet to protecting the physical and mental health of their workers.
Family friendly benefits are essential in attracting and retaining top talent, as they demonstrate an organization’s commitment to supporting its employees beyond the workplace. Employers can utilize a few key strategies in order to effectively include family-friendly benefits in their employee benefit package, which can help lead to positive impacts on employee well-being, job satisfaction and overall organizational success.
- Flexible Work Arrangements - One of the most fundamental principles of family-friendly benefits is that of flexible work arrangements. This can allow employees to better balance their professional and family obligations, and include options like telecommuting, flextime, compressed workweeks or job sharing. Offering such flexibility not only enhances employee happiness but also improves productivity and job satisfaction. By focusing on results rather than strict office hours, employers can demonstrate a trust of their employees to manage their time and deliver the required performance, leading to a more motivated and engaged workforce.
- Paid Parental Leave - Paid Parental Leave plays an important role in promoting family-friendly policies. Providing adequate time off and compensation for new mothers and fathers allows employees to bond with their children during those formative early months. Beyond the emotional benefits, paid parental leave also contributes to increased employee loyalty, reduced turnover and a positive employer brand that attracts top talent seeking a supportive work environment.
- On-Site or Subsidized Childcare - Supporting working parents by offering on-site or subsidized childcare is a game-changer for many employees. By alleviating the stress of finding reliable childcare, employers can demonstrate their commitment to the well-being and needs of their employees. Additionally, on-site childcare can improve attendance, reduce lateness, and boost overall productivity. When on-site childcare may not be feasible, partnering with nearby childcare centers and offering financial assistance can still provide valuable support to working parents.
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) - Dependent Care FSAs allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to cover eligible childcare expenses, such as daycare, after-school programs, or summer camps. By offering this benefit, employers help reduce the financial burden of childcare costs for employees, making it easier for them to manage work and family responsibilities without sacrificing their financial stability.
- Elder Care Support - Family friendly benefits should not be limited to childcare; organizations should also consider elder care support for employees with aging parents or family members in need of assistance. Offering resources, counseling and referrals for elder care services can provide much needed relief to employees navigating these complex family situations.
- Work-Life Balance Programs and Resources - Implementing work-life balance programs and resources can help employees better manage their personal and professional commitments. This may include wellness programs, stress management workshops, counseling services or flexible time-off policies. Employers can encourage a healthy work-life balance by promoting self-care and providing avenues for employees to recharge and rejuvenate, ultimately leading to increased productivity and reduced burnout.
The Electrical Association offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings and Medicare Insurance. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website or contact Jim Pitts at (610) 684-6930. For Medicare options please contact Ricki Jacobson at 4(84) 351-4675.
EAP & HBA (Ches & Del Counties) Mix & Mingle
We are excited to co-host our next Mix & Mingle on October 10th with the Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties! This is a great opportunity to build new relationships with prospective and current partners.
EAP Member attendance is just $25.00 and advanced registration and payment is required. Space is limited so register early!
Register Here
Next Level Leadership: January 2024 Cohort Enrollment
Registration for our fall cohort has now closed, but it’s not too late to
book for our winter leadership cohort, beginning in January 2024. Join EAP for a collaborative experience with expert facilitator & coach, David Levine of KOAP. This program combines group lessons with individual coaching to apply new understandings in real-life activities that help participants hone new skills and develop new ways of working. The cohort will focus on the following key areas: Communicating with Impact, Creating High Performing Teams, and Planning & Execution. Registration and more information at
www.eap.org/KOAP.
Replay Available: Economic Outlook
Seeking regional industry business intelligence? Curious of where the industry is heading in 2024? Make sure you check out the recording of EAP’s Economic Outlook.
Chris Sokoll of DISC Corp and David Gordon of Channel Marketing Group provide a look back at 2023 and the year-end expectations, and the current economic outlook for 2024. Overall economic outlooks with a focus on our region, construction, and the HVAC Market are discussed. Access the video on EAP TV by clicking the image below:
