The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has been named a Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace, joining the inaugural cohort of employers recognized for policies and practices that support working families.
The designation affirms the university’s long-standing commitment to offering a family-centered workplace, said Ben Lennander, assistant vice chancellor for human resources and chief people officer.
“We are a family-forward organization that offers a strong set of benefits that matter to people raising children, adopting or balancing caregiver responsibilities,” he said. “It is an important part of who we are as a workplace.”
The Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace program is a new initiative launched by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and Lincoln Littles. The program is intended to highlight employers that prioritize the well-being of working parents and their families. It recognizes businesses that implement family-friendly workplace policies and positions them to attract and retain a strong workforce.
To gain certification, employers complete a self-assessment. Employers must meet at least seven of 10 key criteria to demonstrate their commitment to family-friendly workplace practices.
Among the program’s qualifying criteria are paid parental leave and flexible scheduling or remote and hybrid work options. Other qualifying practices include caregiver support resources and dedicated spaces and support for breastfeeding or pumping.
Additional criteria for certification recognize health benefits that include family and dependent coverage; childcare support such as stipends or flexible spending accounts; contributions to community childcare efforts; policies that support all family types and caregiving structures; and opportunities for employees to engage in community events.
The university met all 10 criteria.
Programs that contributed to the certification include eight weeks of paid parental leave for birth and adoptive parents; the Employee and Dependent Scholarship Program; flexible work arrangements available across many positions; caregiver support resources; parenting classes; free counseling through the Employee Assistance Program; dedicated lactation spaces; health insurance with dependent coverage; and support for community childcare initiatives, including those connected to Lincoln Littles.
Lennander said these benefits reflect a culture that recognizes employees as whole people.
“Whether someone is welcoming a new child, caring for aging parents or juggling everyday family responsibilities, we want them to know they are supported,” he said.
Each certified business receives a decal and a digital badge to display their commitment to supporting families in the workplace.
The university will use the new certification in recruitment materials and on its human resources website. It builds on other workplace recognitions, including top rankings in Forbes' annual list of America’s Best Employers by State.
“This award reinforces the culture we’ve built — one that values people, their lives outside work and the many ways families look today,” Lennander said.
