Citigroup – Winner 2023, Best Family Network sponsored by BlckBx
Citi’s family network is integral to cultivating an inclusive culture. The holistic approach encourages all employees to integrate their personal and working lives, acknowledging the challenges and stages of family life, which allows individuals to grow and develop their careers.
Family-friendly resources
The network holds virtual and in-person events that benefit the whole family, including art workshops and STEM kit giveaways. Many events focus on helping individuals thrive in their careers, with career management sessions and expert-led content to inform and inspire members in their family and work life. Benefits relating to families and carers are communicated in a variety of ways such as a ‘Moments that Matter’ information pack that includes links and information on all policies and benefits, quarterly sessions on different topics, monthly virtual drop ins, community outreach, and a monthly newsletter.
Family matters
The Families Matter Network provides forums that provide a space to exchange ideas and strategies on balancing the demands of family and career, as well as workshops led by experts. Issues across the experience of family are covered, from fertility to parental leave returners, challenges such as navigating social media and online safety, bullying and eating disorders, and support when caring for elderly loved ones. Events such as the end of year children’s event for 3-11 year olds, held with the Women’s Network, reinforces the value put on families. The network also seeks to have an impact externally, with a Christmas toy drive for local charities, sponsorship of online family support resources for NHS employees, and sponsorship of a local science museum.
Fully inclusive
A key objective of the network is allyship, with a focus on championing and advocating for each other to collectively push towards a more diverse and equitable workplace. The network’s goal is inclusion, and places emphasis on intersectionality by collaborating with other networks, such as webinars on ‘coming out’ with the Pride Employee Network, and a panel event with advice on supporting neurodiverse children with the Disability Employee Network.
Driving change
Collaboration between departments, HR and senior leadership seeks and utilises the views of employees to enhance policy and practice development. Improvements have been successful in fertility funding, bereavement policy, adoption policy, maternity, an increase from 2 to 4 weeks paternity leave, an increase in emergency childcare days, and the securing of free access to expert-led resources for all employees globally. The network acts as a sounding board, providing ideas and feedback to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team where needed, to ensure there is a continuous strive for positive change.