New family room at Bridge8 supports working mothers

Fresh Ideas funding recipient – Bridge8 Pty Ltd

With six female employees who have eight young children between them, Bridge8 is a company of self-described futurists, technologists and communicators offering insights into ‘the creation of possible futures’.

Fittingly, a new family room is the result of a $6300 Fresh Ideas for Work and Family grant obtained by the Adelaide-based, industry development and science communications consultancy in 2009.

‘While we had set up systems allowing work from home and part-time employment, we saw the grant as a way to facilitate more collaborative and productive working arrangements without the need for additional formal or emergency childcare,’ said managing director, Dr Kristin Alford.

‘With our grant we have transformed a small meeting room into a family-friendly room with a television, video, sofa beds and toy boxes so that our children can visit after school or when ill, and to enable one of our employees to return from maternity leave earlier than otherwise possible.

‘For the company, it has meant we are able to benefit from more informal communication, which is difficult when working in isolation, and  it has increased our productivity. Our children really enjoy coming to work to spend time in the room, which also makes working easier.’

Kristin has some advice for future grant recipients based on her own experience.

‘Think through exactly how the room, or change you want to implement, might be used and the components that you will need to get the most out of it—that way you can structure your grant application to ensure the best outcomes for everyone.’

She says that one of the highlights of being able to implement family-friendly arrangements has been the reaction of visitors who come to the business for meetings and see the family-friendly room.

‘Everyone is excited by the flexibility and the way it looks and we get lots of good feedback,’ Kristin said.

‘For a business like ours, there is no excuse for not implementing flexible work-life arrangements. The challenges come in finding out what people need to make work enjoyable and rewarding. And then the benefits also flow to our business.’