Duke Named Among Top Family-Friendly Employers
 For the second 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 fifth annual family-friendly list in its September issue.
"Duke University and Health System is a familiar entry on our list," wrote the editors of Carolina Parent. The magazine highlighted Duke's health insurance benefits, paid time off policy and on-site child care center while referencing a broad range of other benefits. "Lactation facilities, flextime, tuition reimbursement, wellness programs and other great benefits make Duke a likely candidate on any family-friendly list."
Duke has introduced several new benefits and initiatives in the last year to bolster its commitment to supporting families, including the recent announcement of a new paid parental leave for staff, the expansion of the on-site child care facility, a policy providing financial support for military reservists called to active duty, and the creation of a fitness club with discounted membership for employees and family members at facilities throughout the Triangle.
Anu Sidhu, a clinical staff pharmacist at Durham Regional Hospital, was one of more than 1,500 employees who have signed up for the Duke Fitness Club since it was introduced last fall.
"Because of our hectic schedules, finding time to maintain a consistent exercise schedule was difficult," said Sidhu. "By enrolling as a family in the Duke Fitness Club, my husband and I can now exercise while my son is at his swim lessons, all in the same facility. It is a great opportunity for us to spend time together as a family in a way that benefits us all."
Several of Duke's recent efforts to support families are the result of an initiative launched by President Nannerl O. Keohane last year to study and respond to issues among women at Duke. In spring 2002, Keohane appointed a 15-member Women's Steering Committee to study the experiences of women at Duke and recommend improvements.
The new paid parental leave benefit and the expansion of Duke's on-campus child care center were recommendations that came out of the Women's Initiative at Duke. A full report of the findings and recommendation from the Women's Initiative will be issued in late September.
With more than 26,000 faculty and staff, Duke is the largest private employer in the Triangle.
"We are proud to be recognized again by Carolina Parent as one of North Carolina's top family-friendly employers," said Clint Davidson, vice president of Human Resources. "We are making significant strides in providing a family-friendly work place that helps faculty and staff achieve both their personal and professional goals. Our commitment to those who invest their careers here has helped Duke become one of the nation's premier institutions for education, research, and patient care. While we continue to seek ways to support faculty and staff balance their work and family responsibilities, it is an honor to be recognized by Carolina Parent."
More information about Duke's family-friendly programs is available on the Duke Human Resources Web site, www.hr.duke.edu, under the Benefits tab.
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