PicMonkey is a photo editing start-up company based in Seattle and it features a company policy that caters to the needs of parents. Understanding that many of its employees have children, the company welcomes children at the office during business hours.
PicMonkey does its best to encourages parents to bring their children into the workplace, as it has a family room with activities to occupy the kids. CEO and co-founder of the company Jonathan Sposato is a father himself and was looking for several ways to make the space function in a family-friendly manner. Sposato talks to Fast Company stating, "I began to think a lot about why we do what we do: Why do we go to work? [...] It’s to provide a better opportunity for the next generation and create a better world for them. What’s the sense in doing all that, with it coming at the expense of family time?"
Kid-Friendly Office Spaces
PicMonkey's Company Policy Welcomes Children During Office Hours
Trend Themes
1. Family-friendly Workplaces - Companies can innovate by creating policies that cater to the needs of parents, such as welcoming children into the office during business hours.
2. Flexible Work Policies - Employers can innovate by implementing flexible work policies to accommodate the needs of working parents.
3. Child-focused Office Spaces - Companies can innovate by creating designated child-friendly spaces within the office to keep kids entertained and engaged.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Tech companies can benefit from family-friendly policies and child-focused office spaces to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market.
2. Hospitality - Hospitality companies can leverage family-friendly policies and child-focused spaces to make accommodations for families traveling with children.
3. Education - Education institutions can innovate by offering flexible scheduling and on-site child care to support working parents who are completing their degrees.