Raising a family isn’t easy these days, particularly with the cost of living often requiring a two-income household.
With this in mind, a statewide push to make Utah workplaces more family-friendly is gaining traction, thanks to a business initiative formally launched earlier this year in Salt Lake, Summit and Wasatch counties.
The initiative — Best Place for Working Parents — encourages employers to assess and improve their workplace practices through a free, confidential online tool designed to identify family-friendly policies that benefit both employees and bottom lines.
Led by a coalition of partners including the Salt Lake Chamber, Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, Heber Valley Chamber and Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance, the program offers businesses national recognition for adopting research-backed practices that support working parents.
10 proven policies for better business and family outcomes
At the core of the initiative is a three-minute online self-assessment that evaluates whether an employer offers any of 10 policies shown to improve employee retention, productivity and family well-being.
These include paid parental leave, flexible work arrangements, child care assistance and health benefits.
The assessment provides an instant score and a benchmark comparison with similar businesses nationwide. Companies that qualify receive a Best Place for Working Parents designation and can use the badge for public recognition.
Business benefits backed by data
The economic rationale behind the initiative is clear. Nationally, U.S. businesses lose more than $13 billion annually due to child care challenges, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Meanwhile, research cited by the initiative shows:
- 83% of millennials would leave a job for one with stronger family-supportive benefits.
- Employees with access to flexible work are 20% more productive and 30% less likely to leave their jobs.
- Replacing a worker can cost six to nine months of that employee’s salary.
In Utah specifically, the cost of not supporting working families is also steep. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 2023 publication, Untapped Potential: Utah, the state economy loses an estimated $1.36 billion each year due to child care issues.
A culture shift in the making
The Utah launch of Best Place for Working Parents is part of a broader national movement that began in Fort Worth, Texas, and has expanded to more than a dozen cities and regions across the U.S.
The Utah rollout is specifically tailored to the needs of the state’s unique workforce, which is among the youngest in the country and features one of the highest rates of households with children.
Dallin Koecher, executive director of the Heber Valley Chamber, emphasized in a press release that workplace culture is shifting — and businesses that want to remain competitive need to adapt.
“Strong businesses are built from strong families,” he said. “This initiative empowers local employers to not only support the needs of working parents, but to strengthen their own organizations by adopting proven, family-friendly practices, giving these businesses a competitive advantage in a tight labor market.”
The Family-Friendly Guide as a companion resource
Employers looking to take further steps beyond the self-assessment are encouraged to explore Family-Friendly Workplaces: A Guide for Utah Business Leaders. Developed by Utah Community Builders, in collaboration with Voices for Utah Children, United Way of Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Chamber, the guide offers a roadmap for building a supportive workplace culture.
“We believe the private sector can positively impact Utah’s workforce by addressing the intersectionality of child care, employee wellness, employee retention and upward mobility,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber, in the publication’s press release.
“Utah’s working parents need business leaders who are willing to elevate corporate culture by taking a comprehensive approach to the child care challenge. We hope this guide will be a helpful resource for Utah leaders in business, government and community.”
Key strategies outlined in the guide include:
- Conducting employee surveys to identify needs and barriers.
- Piloting small policy changes, such as flexible start times or child care stipends.
- Establishing executive leadership buy-in and cross-departmental support.
- Partnering with local providers to explore on-site or community-based care options.
The guide also includes effective policies — for small startups to large corporations — along with sample messaging, performance metrics and implementation checklists.
How to get involved
Businesses of any size in Salt Lake, Summit and Wasatch counties can complete the Best Place for Working Parents assessment at bestplace4workingparents.com. There is no cost to participate, and the process takes less than five minutes.
Organizations that meet the criteria receive official designation and are celebrated in chamber communications, local media and statewide workforce development efforts.
As more employers join, organizers hope to expand the program across the state and help make Utah a national model for how family-friendly practices can fuel business innovation, workforce stability and community well-being.
For additional resources, download the Family-Friendly Workplaces guide at slchamber.com/resources.
