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For the third consecutive year, Duke
University and Health System has been named as one of the top family-friendly
workplaces in North Carolina by Carolina Parent magazine. |
Duke Named Among Top Family-Friendly Employers
For the third consecutive year, Duke University and Health System has been named as one of the top family-friendly workplaces in North Carolina by
Carolina Parent magazine.
The magazine published its sixth annual family-friendly list in its September issue.
"Duke University has been recognized many times for its generous and family-friendly benefits," wrote the editors for
Carolina Parent. "In the last year, Duke has introduced a variety of new programs and services to its employees to offer even greater support than in previous years."
Among the new benefits and initiatives introduced in the last year are the new paid parental leave for staff, expanded access to quality child care offered through a partnership with Child Care Services Association, and the introduction of guidelines for flexible work arrangements.
Julie Pruitt, a program coordinator for Duke University Health System's Center for Living, was among the first employees to take advantage of the new parental leave benefit. Duke expects about 600 people a year to use the benefit.
"When I heard that Duke was offering a new parental leave policy, I was moved to tears," Pruitt said after the benefit was announced. "Being pregnant with my first child, I was struggling with feelings of guilt about only being able to take a brief maternity leave after the birth of my child. The parental leave policy is truly a blessing. Because of the new parental leave policy, I can afford to extend my maternity leave an extra three weeks and am thankful to have an opportunity to spend more time at home with our new child."
Several of Duke's recent efforts to support families are the result of an initiative launched last year to study and respond to issues among women at Duke. In spring 2002, a 15-member Women's Steering Committee was appointed to study the experiences of women at Duke and recommend improvements.
Duke has also made greater efforts this year to promote the many benefits and support services available to faculty, staff and their family members through a redesigned
Child & Family Benefits web site and the development of a newsletter called
Benefits Advantage.
The newsletter features short profiles of faculty, staff and family members who have used specific benefits or services at Duke that have proven especially valuable in their lives. Each story includes information to help others learn more and take advantage of the featured benefit or service. Because many of Duke's benefits also apply to family members as well as faculty and staff, the newsletter is mailed to the home to increase exposure of these benefits with family members.
"We are proud to be recognized as one of North Carolina's top family-friendly employers," said Clint Davidson, vice president of Human Resources. "It is an honor to receive such an accolade when compared to the many public and private employers across the state. At Duke, we are committed to supporting the needs of those who invest their careers here to help them achieve both their personal and professional goals. It is because of these outstanding people that Duke has become one of the nation's premier institutions for education, research, and patient care."
With more than 27,000 faculty and staff, Duke is the largest private employer
in the Triangle. For more information about Duke's family-friendly programs,
visit the Family-Friendly Benefits
Web Site.
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