The importance of family-friendly HR policies remains strategically anchored in companies – even in economically uncertain times. This is shown by the new "Company Monitor Family Friendliness 2026".
According to the "Company Monitor Family-Friendliness 2026," 88 percent of companies consider family-friendly measures important even in the economically challenging year of 2026. This represents a further increase in the importance of family-friendliness compared to 2023 (86 percent) and, more significantly, compared to 2015 (77 percent). The topic will remain important in the future as well: Nearly eight out of ten HR managers expect work-life balance to become even more crucial as a strategic element for securing skilled workers – despite many of them anticipating economically difficult times ahead.
The Corporate Monitor has been conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) once per legislative period since 2003 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). The Corporate Monitor provides information on the state of family-friendliness in German businesses. The results are based on a representative survey of companies and employees.
Other key findings:
- The importance of family-friendliness has increased among the younger generation: 58 percent of companies with HR policies such as home office and flexible working hours state that these offerings are more important to younger employees today than in the past. Younger employees also value their employer's work-life balance options even if they do not (yet) have childcare responsibilities.
- Flexibility is not a panacea for a good work-life balance: Given the choice, roughly half of employees favor flexible working hours, while the other half prefer reliably planned working hours. Where working hours frequently change for operational reasons, satisfaction with the work-life balance drops significantly.
- For shift workers, having influence over scheduling is a crucial factor in achieving work-life balance: Companies find it challenging to reach employees with more restrictive working conditions, such as shift work, with their family-friendly policies. By offering employees individual influence over scheduling and work assignments, they are specifically trying to improve the work-life balance for shift workers and those with mandatory on-site presence.
You can download the entire company monitor here .
What is the "Success Factor Family" program about?
The corporate program provides impetus for employers to improve the work-life balance, compiles information on family-friendly workplaces, and offers success stories and testimonials from family-friendly companies. The program provides a wide selection of practical examples, studies, and guides on topics such as working time arrangements, corporate culture, father-friendly HR policies, and employer branding.
Further information: The "Success Factor Family" program – Success Factor Family
Source: Companies maintain family-friendliness despite crisis – Family as a success factor, September 15, 2026
