News

Southeast Community College has been named a Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace, joining 12 employers in cohort three to be recognized for policies and practices that prioritize the well-being of working parents and their families. Awarded by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and Lincoln Littles, this certification recognizes employers that meet at least seven of 10 criteria demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting working parents and caregivers.

“Family-friendly isn’t just a policy checklist for us, it is part of how we operate every day,” said Jen Olive, associate vice president for Human Resources at SCC. “Being recognized as a Family Friendly Workplace shows our employees and prospective employees that SCC is a place where their families matter. It is a commitment we plan to keep building on.”

The Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace program was launched in October 2025 to help local employers attract and retain a strong, inclusive workforce by encouraging family-friendly policies and practices. This initiative is important because 90% of brain development occurs before a child enters kindergarten. At the same time, 75 percent of young children in Nebraska have all parents in the workforce. To date, 51 workplaces have received certification.

“Every policy represented here helps families stay connected to high quality learning while strengthening employee retention, engagement, and productivity,” said Anne Brandt, Lincoln Littles executive director. “When early care and education is inaccessible or unstable, the ripple effects are felt across our economy in lost income, lost productivity, and lost workforce participation.”

To earn certification, employers completed a free self-assessment application evaluating benefits and practices across three areas: family-centered workplace supports, childcare support, and inclusive culture and community engagement. Qualifying criteria include paid parental leave, flexible or hybrid scheduling, caregiver support resources, dedicated lactation spaces, family health coverage, childcare stipends or contributions to community childcare efforts, and policies that support all family types and caregiving structures. SCC met all 10 of the qualifying criteria.

Those obtaining certification receive placement on a public map available for job seekers and families, inclusion on the LPED and Lincoln Littles websites and social media platforms, recognition at LPED and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce events, and a certification decal and digital badge for the website and other promotional use.

“In a competitive hiring market, benefits matter just as much as salary,” Olive said. “This certification tells prospective employees that SCC is a place where they can build a career and a family at the same time. That’s a real advantage when we’re competing for the top talent.”

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu