Tampa Bay Leads State with Most Family-Friendly Workplaces

On October 1, dozens of Tampa Bay business leaders gathered for the Beaches to the Bay | Bosses for Babies Breakfast, led by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) and the Children’s Movement of Florida, to discuss how adopting family-friendly policies and championing quality early learning are good for the bottom line – and for children. 

Bosses for Babies is a statewide program of the Children’s Movement of Florida. It’s designed to engage business leaders in boosting their workforce and contributing to community prosperity through family-focused practices.

“From the Beaches to the Bay, we gathered together in a show of force to collectively illustrate that investing in early childhood development, quality early learning, and family-friendly policies pays off,” stated JWB Interim CEO Michael G. Mikurak, who brings decades of successful business acumen to his new role. “Our efforts recruiting new members to join the Movement over the past few months have paid off.”

The Children’s Movement of Florida made this historic announcement.

“Thanks to JWB’s recruitment efforts, a record-breaking 51% of all statewide Bosses for Babies champions are now right here in Tampa Bay,” proclaimed Ric Banciella, Business Director for the Children’s Movement. “That makes Tampa Bay a leader in the state for family-friendly practices that support workforce benefits such as paid parental leave, flexible work schedules, on-site childcare, health care, and more!”  

Bosses for Babies champions in attendance included Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, St. Petersburg College President Dr. Tonjua Williams, Evara Health CEO Elodie Dorso, Amplify Clearwater CEO Amanda Payne, PNC Bank Vice President Dianne Jacob (Retired), Florida Department of Health – Pinellas County Director Dr. Ulyee Choe, Learning Independence for Tomorrow CEO Matt Spence, and many others.

“We are thrilled so many business leaders have stepped up to ensure children thrive in their first five years,” added Children’s Movement CEO Madeleine Thakur. “Bosses for Babies is a win for business, a win for families, and a win for Florida!”

To champion families in your business and be part of a statewide movement to build a stronger, more equitable future for every child, visit: ChildrensMovementFlorida.org/Bosses-for-Babies.

JWB also announced a powerful solution to the local childcare crisis – Careonomics: The Childcare Equation. Working with Chamber partners and employers across Pinellas County, JWB will disseminate surveys; gather, analyze, and map results; and convene partners across broad sectors to determine local childcare solutions. This effort supports our business community and, most importantly, our working families who rely on quality, affordable care for their children. The goal is to make significant, actionable progress against the childcare crisis with the deployment of Careonomics, investing in families to strengthen businesses.

“While the scale and scope of this effort is significant, the resulting impact will be immeasurable,” stated Mikurak. “When families can work and know their children are safe and thriving, we all win.”

A link to the childcare survey will be shared with area chambers of commerce and businesses in the coming weeks, with access from JWB’s website at: www.jwbpinellas.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Businesses win by attracting and retaining top talent—boosting productivity and employee loyalty while reducing turnover.
• Families win with increased job satisfaction, greater stability for working parents, lower stress, and better work-life balance.
• Florida wins with stronger, healthier families and communities; more parents in the workforce, driving economic growth; and better early childhood outcomes for Florida’s future workforce.
• Florida will add 4.5 million children under six by the year 2030.
• 55% of unplanned absences in the workforce are due to employees’ childcare issues.
• Florida businesses spend $1.7 billion annually due to employee turnover costs.
• Loss of revenue to the State of Florida due to childcare issues is estimated at $5.4 billion.
• The annual cost of childcare is nearly double the cost of in-state college tuition in Florida.

LEAD PHOTO: Tampa Bay Bosses for Babies Champions (L-R): Faith Bornoff – Pinellas County Licensing Board; Dr. Ulyee Choe – Florida Dept. of Health in Pinellas County; Mary Jo Plews – Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas County; Maris Mowat – Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County; Lisa Huff – Learning Empowered; Dr. Frederick Hicks – Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County; Matt Spence – Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT); Madeleine Thakur – Children’s Movement of Florida; Dianne Jacob, PNC Bank (Retired); Michael Mikurak – Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County; Amanda Payne, Amplify Clearwater; Katie Roder-Turner – Family Healthcare Foundation; Jean Pierre – Suncoast Center; Kristen Arrojo Gnage – Florida Council Against Sexual Violence/JWB Board Vice Chair; April Lott – Directions for Living; Jake Hornstein – Our Children Have Rights; Elodie Dorso – Evara Health; and Ric Banciella – Children’s Movement of Florida/Bosses for Babies