Credit union honored for babies-at-work policy Credit union honored for babies-at-work policy (December 05, 2003)

New strategy reduces staff shortages, cost of child care
by Teresa C. Brown

Cooing babies are not only a welcome sight at UNCLE Credit Union, they are part of the company policy. This earned the firm the honor of being named Pleasanton's 2003 Family Friendly Employer of the Year.

Child Care Links and the city of Pleasanton jointly selected the employer from a pool of nominees, recognizing the credit union as standing out among its peers in its support of families.

Under the Babies in the Workplace policy, the credit union encourages new parents to bring their infant to work with them until the baby is 8 months old or crawling, whichever occurs first. Not only can parents return to the workplace sooner, said Jim Ott, credit union president and chief executive officer, but both the credit union and the parents benefit.

"This reduces staff shortages, eliminates the need for temporary personnel during leaves, and reduces the cost of child care for the parent," Ott said.

"The program is fairly new, introduced in May 2003," said Ott. The policy is part of the credit union's vision principles that promote a sense of family, he explained.

"To date, three mothers and their babies have participated in the program with great success," he said. While one baby has transitioned to offsite child care, two of the three babies are still accompanying their parents.

"Our employees absolutely love the program," Ott said. "Having a baby around calms the work environment, creates a sense of family, and has not interfered with productivity."

Ott recalled a conversation a credit union member had with an employee regarding the program.

"I liked banking at UNCLE before, but let me tell you I really, really like UNCLE now and how your family values are," the customer said.

"We know of no other financial institution or company in the Tri-Valley who provides this benefit, but we hope our example will inspire others to consider the idea," Ott said.

The credit union will be formally recognized during the Chamber of Commerce community services award luncheon Tuesday at the Ruby Hill Golf Club.

The Babies in the Workplace policy was a significant factor in selecting UNCLE Credit Union, said Shauna Brown, spokeswoman for Child Care Links. "They definitely have a well-developed vision that includes recognizing the family," she said.

In addition to the policy, the credit union offers other family-oriented benefits, Brown said. The company offers telecommuting, adoption assistance and flexible spending for dependent care and healthcare, she explained. The credit union is also active in the community, she added.

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