Lincoln Littles and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) are thrilled to announce that 13 local organizations have been certified through the Lincoln Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program.

The 13 workplaces receiving certification are: Ameritas, City of Lincoln, Don’t Panic Labs, FNBO, Hudl, Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Lincoln Community Foundation, Lincoln Electric System, Primrose School at Hudl, Primrose School of Lincoln at Wilderness Hills, Schemmer, TMCO and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The program was announced on October 20 and celebrates employers who demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting working families with young children, implement family-friendly workplace practices for their employees and help make Lincoln a great place to live, work and play by prioritizing family-well-being and early childhood support.

“We are honored to be recognized as a family-friendly workplace,” says Sarah Wood, Chief Operating Officer of the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. “This certification is a testament to the commitment we've made to supporting the people who make our work possible. In recent years, we've made intentional improvements to support our staff such as paid parental leave for all new parents regardless of their gender or whether their child is biological or adopted, a lifestyle spending account, dedicated lactation space, a robust healthcare plan covering employees and their families, and more.”  

“We're proud of how far we've come as an organization, and this recognition celebrates those improvements and reinforces our commitment to continually finding new ways to support our team and their families," Wood concludes.

Those obtaining certification receive placement on a public map available for job seekers and families, inclusion on the LPED and Lincoln Littles websites and social media platforms, recognition at LPED and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce events and a certification decal and digital badge for website and other promotional use.

“When I looked for a new role, I wanted an employer that valued family and work-life balance. LES has given me that, and I’m grateful,” says Danna Bacon, HR Consultant and a recent hire at Lincoln Electric System. “I hope others exploring new opportunities see how family-friendly LES is—this certificate reflects that perfectly,” Bacon adds.

To gain certification, employers must meet at least 7 out of 10 qualifying criteria. Complete details on the workplaces certification program can be found at https://www.selectlincoln.org/lincoln-family-friendly-workplace-certification.

To apply, workplaces will complete the free self-assessment application online, which takes around 15 minutes to complete. Applications will be reviewed quarterly by the Lincoln Littles Board of Advisors Engagement Committee. 

For more information on Engagement Committee meetings and a certification review timeline, contact Anne Brandt, Executive Director of Lincoln Littles, at anne.brandt@lincolnlittles.org.