NextGen Work Culture: HR, Management, Inclusive Parent-Friendly Work Environment, Employee Recruitment and Retention, Talent Development

Accommodating the needs of each individual employee can be a daunting task for managers. In this solo episode, I share several accommodation ideas and things to consider for the pregnant employees on your team.

Download the pdf guide with these ideas at:

kortneyross.com/ideasforpregnantemployees

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

Most U.S. employers need to comply with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and PUMP Act laws. But, these relatively recent laws can be a bit difficult to understand. In this episode, Kortney sits down with Jessica Craft, an attorney focused on employment law at Littler. Together, they explore two pivotal pieces of legislation shaping the landscape for working parents and expecting mothers.

Jessica breaks down the Pump Act and the PWFA, explaining the time and space requirements for breastfeeding mothers and the interactive process mandated by the PWFA to ensure suitable accommodations for pregnant workers.

Throughout the episode, Kortney and Jessica discuss several scenarios and Jessica offers practical solutions for employers. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how these laws are shaping the future of work culture and parental rights.

Connect with Jessica Craft and Littler Mendelson P.C.:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 713.652.4765

• Jessica L. Craft | Littler Mendelson P.C.
• Littler Mendelson P.C. | Employment & Labor Law Solutions Worldwide

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

In this episode of NextGen Work Culture, host Kortney Ross dives into the crucial topic of sleep with Nicole Ratcliffe, a sleep specialist from the UK. Nicole shares her personal journey of becoming passionate about sleep after experiencing the challenges of sleep deprivation with her own children.

The conversation delves into the profound impact of sleep deprivation on mental and physical health, workplace productivity, and even road safety. Nicole highlights the importance of employers understanding and supporting parents who are struggling with sleep, offering practical solutions and insights into fostering a family-friendly workplace culture. From flexible working hours to genuine communication and support, Nicole emphasizes the need for businesses to prioritize employee wellbeing, ultimately contributing to a more productive and fulfilled workforce.

Connect with Nicole:

• Nicole Ratcliffe's Website
• Participate in Nicole's research: Investigating the impact of family-friendly employers on employee wellbeing

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

In this episode, Kortney talks to Allison Whalen about paid parental leave. Allison is the founder of Parentaly, a company that helps improve the parental leave experience for everyone: the expecting employee, their manager, peers, direct reports, and business leaders. Paid parental leave doesn't just benefit families, it's a game changer for businesses, too.

Allison shares how companies that champion parental leave gain a competitive edge in attracting and retaining top talent. Strong parental leave policies may seem like they would cost a business, but in reality, they are a smart investment for any company's future.

Navigating the transition back to work after parental leave can seem daunting, but Allison and I discuss practical solutions to make it easier for both employees and their managers. We talk about personalized coverage plans and strategies for a smooth and meaningful return. Allison illuminates the importance of a thoughtful approach to parental leave policies—ensuring they're not just a checkmark on a benefits list but a true pillar of workplace culture. Join us for a thought-provoking look at the delicate intricacies that can make or break the parental leave experience, and how getting it right is a win-win for everyone.

More About Allison Whalen

Allison started working on Parentaly after she returned to work from her first parental leave and found her piece of the business in disarray and her direct reports unhappy. After surveying her peers, she found the #1 complaint and reason for attrition and unhappiness after parental leave was due to the disruption the time away created in their careers, not parenting or health concerns.

Instagram: @Parentaly

Resources Page: Parentaly.com/resources

The False Tradeoff Podcast: Parentaly.com/podcast

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

This week, Anthony Franzese joined Kortney to share more about his role in supporting family health at Stork Club. As a new father, Anthony opens up about his own paternity leave. Then, we uncover the gaps that traditional health insurance often leaves wide open. We talk about how fertility treatments, adoption assistance, hormone therapy, and other family benefits are not just important for families, but good for businesses too. These increasingly popular and important benefits boost employee loyalty and productivity and can help with recruiting too. Whether you're a parent-to-be, an HR pro, or just intrigued by how the workplace is evolving to embrace family life, this conversation is for you!

Connect with Anthony:

Successful Working Parents Podcast: Apple | Spotify

LinkedIn: Anthony Franzese

Learn about Stork Club:

Email: [email protected]

Website: joinstorkclub.com

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

When family and work collide, the aftermath can echo across the nation. That's precisely what happened in the heart-wrenching case of Marissa and Kyte Baby. This short solo episode talks about the Kyte Baby controversy and the reality of parental leave policies in America.

I talk through Marissa's ordeal with her premature baby's NICU stay, her employer's rigid policies, and the viral aftermath that shook the foundation of Kyte Baby's brand. This isn't just a narrative about one company's misstep; it's an examination of the systemic failures and a call for change in the workplace. Employees need empathy and support from their leaders, especially in times of such a fragile situation as having a premature baby.

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

It's becoming more common for Dad to take on the majority of parenting responsibilities. In many households, he may even be the lead parent! In this episode, Kortney talks to Paul Sullivan about what it truly means to be a 'lead dad' in today's world.

Paul shares his journey to becoming the Lead Dad in his household, balancing a journalism career with being the primary caregiver to his three daughters and supporting his wife as she began her own business. Along the way, Paul realized that there wasn't a lot of support for fathers who were taking on the bulk of parenting responsibilities, and The Company of Dads was born. Now Paul offers a support network for fathers who are redefining the traditional boundaries of 'dad duties' and advocates and educates the world of work about Lead Dads.

The conversation dives into some of the challenges that working parents face. Paul suggests that employers offer care days to allow employees to care for children and other loved ones. We also discuss the need for equitable parental leave and the stigmas that fathers often encounter when they choose to prioritize family.

This episode is full of passionate conversation that's sure to resonate with anyone who has ever played the lead role in parenting. It's also a great listen for managers and workplace policymakers looking to shape a more inclusive work environment where caregiving is not just respected but championed.

About Paul Sullivan

Paul is the founder of The Company of Dads, the first platform dedicated to creating a community for Lead Dads. Its mission is to help Lead Dads feel less isolated and more confident that they have made the correct choice to take on the bulk of the parenting and family duties - or at the very least not embrace stereotypes around who does what at home.

As a Lead Dad himself, Paul understands intimately the joys, frustrations, isolation and reticence around talking about being a Lead Dad. It’s a role that is growing in numbers but is far from normalized.

Paul lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his wife and their three daughters and three dogs. When not running The Company of Dads or being a Lead Dad, he is an obsessive golfer.

Connect with Paul and The Company of Dads

TheCompanyofDads.com

The Company of Dads Community on Facebook

IG @thecompanyofdads

The Company of Dads on LinkedIn

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

Exciting update! Playgrounds and Paychecks is now NextGen Work Culture! 

After two amazing seasons, I'm shifting the focus from the parents themselves to the leaders and decision-makers who have the power to shape the culture of their organizations.

"NextGen Work Culture" is about empowering leaders to support working parents and create inclusive, family-friendly environments. I believe that being a family-friendly business isn't a "nice-to-have" anymore; it's critical for the next generation and those who are raising them. 

Subscribe for insights on making your workplace the best it can be for working parents! 

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

Discover how to navigate themaze of parental leave programs with the help of Linzay Davis from The Park Consulting. In this discussion, Linzay shares not just the technicalities of state and federal protections but the emotional and financial impact these policies have on American families. We'll reveal how understanding and preparing for parental leave can change the game for new parents. While Linzay's experience focuses on California's paid leave, this episode is packed full of insights for anyone planning to start a family or leaders hoping to better understand the complexities of paid leave.

The current state of parental leave in the U.S. is a patchwork of policies that often leaves families in a lurch. We talk about the harsh realities that over half of the women in the country do not have job protection to take parental leave, leading to a startling number returning to work too soon postpartum. Lindsay and I tackle the gaps in paid leave, the limitations of short-term disability insurance, and the dire need for systemic change.

We also talk about workplace rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Pump Act, two critical pieces of legislation that support pregnant and nursing employees. We lay out the potential legal recourse for non-compliance by employers and share resources for parents seeking guidance. Whether you're a parent or an employer, arm yourself with the knowledge and insights from this episode to better support the parenting journey.

Linzay Davis

Linzay Davis is the founder and CEO of The Park, a parental leave consulting agency serving new and expecting moms throughout the US. After her parental leave went terribly wrong, she quit a job she loved and started The Park to help ensure every mom gets the parental leave they deserve. The Park's mission is to educate and empower new and expecting moms on every pregnancy right, protection, and leave program they have access to so they can confidently advocate for themselves and take the longest, paid parental leave possible. Since she launched The Park in early 2023, Linzay has coached nearly 250 parents, helping them collectively take 6,500 weeks of leave and receive $6,300,000 in parental leave paid benefits. 

Connect with Linzay:

Instagram: @theparkconsulting

TikTok: @theparkconsulting

LinkedIn: The Park

Website: TheParkConsulting.com

Planning to Pump Course:

A teacher's guide to confidently pumping at work (and understanding her rights to do so!) Check it out at: Playgroundsandpaychecks.com/planningtopump

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture

When Erin Helle unexpectedly traded her Army uniform for the round-the-clock duties of motherhood, she encountered a battlefield of a different kind. Tune in as Erin reflects on her journey of becoming a mother as a service member. The Army extended maternity leave just in time for her second child and her commanding officer was supportive. However, she received deployment orders shortly after returning from leave and this catapulted her into a decision to leave the military.

This episode captures Erin's raw and honest account of the isolation that shadows the life of a stay-at-home parent after the rigor and camaraderie of the military. Erin's insights underline the value of supportive leadership and the importance of resilience as a parent.

About Erin Helle

Erin is a self-made millionaire who achieved financial freedom through real estate investing in less than four years. To date, she has helped over 300 other investors to build cash-flowing real estate portfolios. A U.S. Army Veteran, Erin understands what it’s like to work for “the man” and be limited by a schedule and fixed income. Erin created a system to allow her to live a life by design and now has the time and resources to give back and focus on her family. Erin’s real estate portfolio includes 94 rental units. She helps other real estate investors find deals as a realtor, fund them as a mortgage broker, and analyze them as a coach. Erin’s real estate investing course and mentorship empower investors to dream big and ruthlessly pursue their goals! She has a personal goal of creating a million millionaires! Learn more about her business, BC Global Investments at the links below!

Website: BCGlobalInvestments.com

Facebook: @theerinhelle

Instagram: @theerinhelle_investorcoach

Connect with us at:

RossLearningSolutions.com

LinkedIn: @kortneyross

Instagram: @nextgenworkculture

Facebook: @nextgenworkculture