Building a Childfree-Friendly Workplace
We are Childfree’s “Building Bridges” workshops help companies meet the needs of childfree colleagues and foster understanding between parents and non-parents.
AS FEATURED IN
THE PROBLEM
Childfree workers are not OK
50%
of women under 30 don’t have kids. 1 in 4 workers never will*
77%
of childfree people feel like they’ve been treated differently at work
60%
have felt friction with the parents they work with
68%
feel like they can’t bring up these issues with their line manager
16%
have considered leaving their job because of these challenges
(*Office for National Statistics, Michigan State University. All other data from our 2023 survey of 1,100 childfree individuals)
THE IMPACT
Hidden harms, concealed costs
For many companies, this is an invisible issue. Yet the impact is real.
- Decreased productivity
- Conflict between employees
- Mental health challenges
- Higher staff turnover
- Increased hiring and training costs
- Risks to your brand and reputation
The good news?
There’s lots of positive action companies can take to build bridges between colleagues with and without children!
Our workshop sessions educate and empower, giving you the tools to ensure childfree team members feel valued and listened to.
THE SOLUTION
The Building Bridges Workshop
Our one-hour sessions focus on fostering an inclusive working environment by bridging the gap between staff with children, and those who are childfree.
Who are these workshops for?
- Company leaders interested in cultivating an inclusive workplace culture
- Managers responsible for running collaborative teams
- Parents and non-parents throughout your organization
What’s covered?
- Inclusive Language: what does the term “childfree” mean compared to “childless”?
- Understanding: what challenges do people face when leading a childfree lifestyle?
- Myths & Microaggressions: what are the main misconceptions of the childfree community?
- Cooperation & Collaboration: how can colleagues be more inclusive towards their childfree coworkers?
- Building Bridges: how can we foster mutual understanding, respect and cooperation between parents and non-parents?
How are they delivered?
- Remote webinars open to everyone at your organization
- Face-to-face small group workshops available for specific teams, departments or Employee Resource Groups
Sessions are very flexible and can be tailored to your company’s needs. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, just ask!
YOUR HOST
“I’m on a mission to build bridges between parents and non-parents.”
ZOË NOBLE, FOUNDER OF WE ARE CHILDFREE
I’ve created a community of over 80,000 childfree people who wish their choice was accepted and embraced at work.
I’ve experienced first-hand what it’s like to feel “othered” for my decision not to have children. So when childfree people told me they don’t enjoy the same workplace benefits, opportunities, or flexibility as parents, I knew I could help.
Companies like Zalando and Reckitt (the makers of Durex!) say our workshops have opened up new channels of communication between their employees, encouraged mutual understanding and respect, and strengthened their teams.
THE BENEFITS
Build a truly inclusive workplace
Building Bridges allows you to create open dialogues, enhance cooperation and reduce friction, promoting a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion.
Support a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Develop inclusive language sensitive to everyone’s parental status
Establish channels for employee feedback and conflict resolution
Create an environment in which childfree people can thrive
Reduce friction between parents and non-parents
Encourage better communication, cooperation, and collaboration
Implement inclusive hiring practices and reduce bias in selection processes
Improve employee satisfaction and performance
Increase employee retention
Ready to work better together?
FAQ
True, but what matters most is how childfree people feel about their workplace. Ask yourself, do they have reason to feel that parents are favoured in your company? What accommodations have you made for people who don’t or can’t have kids? If folks are feeling discriminated against, what if we could help you clear the air?
But if one of the problems faced by childfree folks is that they don’t feel safe to speak up, how would you know? They confide in us that they fear their very real concerns won’t be welcomed in the same way as those of their coworkers with kids. So when it comes to your team, no news might be bad news!
Do you have money to spend on hiring and training new staff? Childfree folks tell us they’re ready to leave unwelcoming work environments, and you can help keep them happy, productive – and in your business! – by opening up a safe channel of communication.
As well as being expert facilitators, we’re experts in creating childfree-friendly workplaces. Our consulting services can help you make your policies more accommodating for non-parents, design benefits that delight all your employees, communicate in language that’s truly inclusive, and more! If you’re ready to talk about how to build a better business for all your employees, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch!
