SENATE MEMORIAL 17

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Sander Rue and Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING NEW MEXICO'S FAMILY-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES AND PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2018 AS "FAMILY-FRIENDLY BUSINESS DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, family-friendly businesses acknowledge and respond to the work, personal and family responsibilities of employees by developing and implementing policies and practices that allow employees to effectively balance work, personal and family responsibilities; and

     WHEREAS, family-friendly business policies benefit both employees and employers by positively impacting the health, education, economic stability and job satisfaction of employees and their families while making employers more competitive; increasing sales, share value and productivity; and lowering costs by reducing absenteeism, turnover and health-related expenses; and

     WHEREAS, family-friendly workplace policies improve businesses, the workforce and communities; and

     WHEREAS, businesses with family-friendly policies improve their ability to compete in the marketplace; improve the health and well-being of their employees; improve employee retention; improve quality and productivity so they can successfully achieve their mission; reduce costs associated with turnover, health care and lost productivity; and improve their communities by providing access to employment that allows employees to balance work and personal responsibilities; and

     WHEREAS, a child today is as likely to have a working mother as a working father; and

     WHEREAS, in New Mexico in 2010, approximately sixty percent of children under age six had all parents in the labor force; and

     WHEREAS, more women today than ever before are heads of households and are balancing home, work and community responsibilities; and  

     WHEREAS, a statewide task force on family-friendly workplaces for New Mexico women and families was convened and chaired by Lee Reynis and Giovanna Rossi; and

     WHEREAS, the task force developed a family-friendly business award program to recognize employers that demonstrate a commitment to family-friendly workplace policies; and

     WHEREAS, the four categories of family-friendly policies in the award application are paid leave, health support, work schedules and economic support; and

     WHEREAS, companies recognized with awards gain stature in their industry and can use their award status in recruiting and marketing; when they do so, employees and other companies are educated on the advantages of family-friendly workplaces, and award recipients can experience a competitive advantage; and

     WHEREAS, companies that have demonstrated a commitment to family-friendly workplace policies are now being recognized and are helping to create the tools that will assist other New Mexico businesses looking to adopt family-friendly workplace policies;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that in recognition of New Mexico's family-friendly businesses, January 23, 2018 be proclaimed "Family-Friendly Business Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico businesses be encouraged to apply for the family-friendly business award at www.nmfamilyfriendlybusiness.com; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor; the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee; the secretary of workforce solutions; the secretary of economic development; the secretary of health; the secretary of human services; the secretary of children, youth and families; the director of the university of New Mexico's bureau of business and economic research; and the chairs of chambers of commerce of New Mexico cities with populations of more than sixty thousand individuals.

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