Riyadh – May 2025:
The Al Mawaddah Family Development Association, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, launched the first edition of the "Best Family-Supporting Workplace Award." The award was sponsored by His Excellency Mr. Sattam bin Amer Al Harbi, Deputy Minister for Inspection and Workplace Development, as part of the International Exhibition for the Non-Profit Sector (IENA), held in Riyadh in May 2025.

The award, the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims to encourage employers across various sectors to adopt practices and policies that support families and promote work-life balance. This will contribute to building humane and sustainable work environments that take into account the needs of employees, especially mothers and fathers.

The policies and practices covered by the award include: providing paid leave for mothers and fathers, providing flexible working hours, providing on-site childcare facilities, mental health and behavioral support initiatives, and building a welcoming corporate culture for new parents.

The award was launched based on a field study conducted by the Mawaddah Association on a sample of 428 working mothers. The results revealed that family-supportive work environments directly contribute to higher job satisfaction rates, reduced labor market dropout rates, and enhanced employee productivity. The study also pointed to successful international models in this field.

For his part, Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Radhi, CEO of the Mawaddah Association, explained that the launch of the award comes in response to a clear societal and professional need. He emphasized that supporting families begins in the workplace, and that a balance between work and family life is essential for achieving societal stability and increasing institutional productivity.

The launch ceremony was attended by a large number of leaders from the non-profit sector, representatives of supporting organizations, and those interested in developing work environments in the Kingdom. The application process and evaluation criteria for the award were also announced during the event, which includes the extent to which organizations adopt family-supportive practices and adhere to empowerment and job balance policies.

The award winners will be announced at the end of the year during a ceremony sponsored by a number of partners and sponsors.