How Start-ups Are Engaging With Families Of Employees To Build Credibility For Their Brand

<p>India is evolving and so are the ambitions of Indians. It has become a start-up hotspot and has attracted investors from across the world. Despite the open and free culture in start-up offices work can get competitive and demanding from employees. To stay ahead from competition some organizations tend to have long and stressful working hours, and at times employees tend to take the stress back home. Add to that the Indian scenario where family is a big part of life, not spending enough time with them adds to the strain that employees feel. Family members start to feel excluded and the friction at home has a tendency to increase.<br><br>Employees with young kids at home start feeling the guilt leading to lack of focus and concentration at work.&nbsp; The support of family gives significant leverage in terms of reducing work tensions and can make all the difference. Companies have starting involving families in functions and other occasions to make them feel more involved in their organizations. Initiatives that engage with family members of the employees can go a long way in keeping the work force happy and satisfied.<br><br>Involvement and satisfaction of family members plays an important role in retention of talent. Some initiatives that companies can take to build a relationship with family members are:<br><br>Thank you letters while hiring - Small gestures like sending welcome letters to the employee's family makes them feel like a part of the extended family of the organization. Small tokens like flowers and cakes to their home address helps the family feel more connected to the company.<br><br>Celebrating work anniversaries - Celebrating every employee's work anniversary by inviting the spouse &amp; kids or parents and bringing them to office where they meet up with MD and the team members help the members of the family more connected to the job that their spouse does. Small office tours and special dinners makes the employees and the family feel special and warm towards the organization. Gifting small personalized items to the kids will delight the kids and everyone else as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Employee events that involves families- Involve family members in certain events that are held at work. Having a special bring your family to work day or inclusion in celebrations like annual days go a long way with families. Participation in organizing the event and spending some time with the employees to ensure its success helps families feel like a part of the company. Such gestures initiate trust and respect amongst the family and its employees.<br><br>Family involvement is extremely important in the professional success of an employee. Small initiatives can help reduce family stress due to work and make family members feel attached to the organization.&nbsp; Understanding of the work and the environment that the spouse works in helps kins feel comfortable and relaxed. Regards and respect for companies is higher by families if they feel like a part of the organization. This interaction also helps in building credibility for the organization by the family and the employees.<br><br><em>The author, Pradeep Malhotra, is VP &amp; Managing Director of Blue Jeans India</em></p>