Is there a fee to apply for the Sloan Awards?
A: No, there is no fee associated with the application for the Sloan Award.
Can I preview the questionnaire for the Employer Survey?
A: The PDF version of the 2008 Employer Application can be downloaded here. Please note that this is provided for information purposes only. All final applications must be submitted online at
www.whenworkworks.org. Some questions will appear in a slightly different order in the PDF version and the online format.
What are the criteria for winning?
A: Applications are evaluated in a two-step process that measures an employer’s workplace flexibility programs, policies and culture against national data
from Families and Work Institute’s National Study of Employers [pdf], and then validates these with employee input.
My company is very flexible, but we are a small organization without many formal policies in place. Are we eligible?
A: Yes. The award process is specifically designed to assess the overall culture of flexibility in the workplace, what is actually available to employees,
by incorporating employer and employee responses. We do not ask about formal versus informal policies or programs.
Can I preview the questionnaire for the Employee Survey?
A: The questionnaire for the Employee Survey is not available for review. It is important that this be the case in order to ensure the
integrity of the award process and avoid any suggestion by the public that employees’ answers could be influenced. The questionnaire asks
employees to assess: the accessibility of flexibility programs; the aspects of the workplace culture that support the ability to work
flexibly; and whether or not there is jeopardy for the use of flexible programs. The questionnaire is brief and takes 10-15 minutes to
complete. All responses are confidential and are returned directly to Families and Work Institute.
My company is located in the surrounding community of one of the selected cities. Are we eligible to apply?
A: To be eligible, organizations must have a worksite
located in the greater metropolitan region of the select cities,
which includes the surrounding community. In the case of Arizona, the application process is open state-wide to any employer in Arizona.
How do you select the employees for the Employee Survey?
A: Families and Work Institute staff will provide assistance with employee selection and with the distribution of the survey.
For a worksite with 250 employees or less, the survey is distributed to 100% of the employee population. If there are more than
250 employees, the survey is distributed to a sample of 250 employees drawn from an alphabetized employee roster using a systematic
selection process. To be eligible, a 40% response rate is required for the Employee Survey.
My company is very large with offices throughout the country. Is it appropriate for us to apply given our size?
A: Yes, large companies are encouraged to apply if a branch or worksite is located in one of the select cities. The application
process will be limited to the local site, as will the bestowal of the award, if it wins. If a company has worksites in more than one
of the cities, each of those sites is eligible to apply.
I have completed the Employer Survey. Can I go back and edit my answers?
A: Applicants can login to review their survey answers and make changes until the final
deadline. To return to the survey, go to
http://www.whenworkworks.org/survey/login.php and enter your email address
and password. If you forget your password, go to http://www.whenworkworks.org/survey/password.php
and a new one will be sent to you.
Will my company be able to see the results of our survey?
A: Yes, applicants will receive the results of their survey including a benchmark report of how they compare with other applicants
and with nationally representative data for U.S. employers. This provides valuable information to employers to help them know where they
stand and how they might improve in the future.
Who can I contact if I have further questions?
A: If you have additional questions about the award process, please contact Shanny Peer at Families and Work Institute
at speer[at]familiesandwork[dot]org or 212-465-2044 x217.
You may also call the Sloan Awards Hotline for Employers at 1-800-966-2044 or email us at whenworkworks[at]familiesandwork[dot]org.
