New Greensboro initiative places priority on family friendly workplaces
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The Greensboro community will soon be the first in the state with the title Family Forward North Carolina Certified Community.
There are 82 employers across the community that meet the qualifications. There are big corporations and small businesses, and they all have their own way of making sure that family comes first, even at work.
'I have been here for 27 years,' Associate Vice Provost for Student Success at UNC-Greensboro Regina McCoy said.
McCoy knows what it's like to balance being a mom and climbing up the career ladder.
'I was pregnant in my interview, and that was the first thing I asked: 'How do you support working moms, working families?'' McCoy said.
Most recently, she helped bring a lactation pod to UNCG's campus. Another one is on the way soon. UNCG also offers child care on campus.
'You can come and drop them off. You can also make sure there is time you just play with your kids. You can learn with your kids,' McCoy said.
It is a similar story across town at North Carolina A&T State University.
'We have lactation rooms and child care facilities that support families that are growing,' Associate Vice Chancellor at NC A&T Veronica Sills said.
NC A&T knows a thing or two about breaking barriers, and this certification is no exception.
'It also means we are setting the pace. We are setting the tone and the expectation as we set the bar for other employers about what it means to be a family-first and family-forward employer,' Sills said.
Something similar is happening in downtown Greensboro.
'We help clients find talent,' Chief People Officer at Charles Aris Danielle Bowman said.
The executive search firm also has a lactation room.
'We have necessities under the cabinet, and we have a refrigerator … If they want to store their breast milk until they leave, they can do that,' Bowman said.
The office also offers a space for mental health.
'We have what we call a Zen room here in the Greensboro office where if you just need a moment to go chill, you can go and sit down and shut the door and get away from the noise of technology and people around you and have that quiet moment to reset,' Bowman said.
There are five categories that are considered to make the cut, including child care, health and wellness, parental leave and designated facilities. If an employer qualifies, they get a badge that shows they are certified.
'I think that really gives them kind of a competitive edge when they are recruiting or retaining talent,' Executive Director at Action Greensboro Cecilia Thompson said.
On Thursday, Greensboro will officially be certified as a family-forward community.
The celebration starts on Friday. Anyone is welcome to come to LeBauer Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to meet some of the employers.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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