Companies across Serbia are increasingly recognizing the importance of supporting employees, understanding family responsibilities, and promoting work-life balance as key factors for employee satisfaction and a healthy workplace culture. Through the regional programme “Expanding Choices” ten companies in Serbia have introduced concrete benefits and practices aimed at providing greater support to employees during important life moments.
The first day of kindergarten or school is one of the major milestones in every family’s life. That is why Flow Ninja from Niš introduced an additional day off for employees whose children are starting kindergarten or school, allowing parents to be fully present during this important moment.
As Milica Videnović, Project & Account Manager at Flow Ninja, explains, this support allowed her to dedicate that day entirely to her child, without worrying about work, meetings, or everyday professional responsibilities.
“I had complete freedom and the opportunity to spend that day with my child, because starting kindergarten is not only a big change for the child, but also for the parent.”
At the same time, Intens from Novi Sad, an IT company, focused on providing everyday support to employees and their families through greater flexibility and understanding of employees’ life circumstances.
The company introduced up to 50 hours of paid leave annually without requiring medical documentation and without salary reduction. Employees can use these hours when they are ill, not feeling well, or when their child or another family member is sick. In addition, the company improved its internal procedures and more clearly defined employees’ rights regarding working hours, annual leave, and other types of leave.
Similar measures have also been introduced by SDPS d.o.o. from Belgrade, which provides employees with additional paid leave for their children’s first day of school, flexible working hours, and additional support for employees with disabilities. Nearly 80 per cent of employees in this company are persons with disabilities, and the company provides more flexible leave arrangements and adjusted working hours to help employees balance work, family life, and health-related needs.
“When my child started school, I received five paid working days off, which meant a lot to me. And when my husband broke his leg, I was able to be there for him and spend more time with my family,” says Marija Micevski, decorator at SDPS. “It means a lot to know that sometimes I can come in late because of my children or leave earlier when I need to take my child to the doctor.”
Flow Ninja, Intens, and SDPS are three of the ten companies participating in the regional project "Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies for the Private Sector in the Western Balkans - Phase 2." In addition to these three companies, the programme also includes TGRS, SDPS, Ribella Foods, Yettel Bank, eFront, IKEA Srbija, GDi Solutions, and CNT, all of which have developed various family-friendly policies and employee benefits through a mentorship support programme.
Family-friendly workplaces are key to building a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, both at work and at home. By bringing together key stakeholders, including institutions and private sector leaders, this initiative promotes the adoption of family-friendly policies across Serbia and contributes to systemic changes that create a more supportive environment for families.
On the International Day of Families, these examples demonstrate that family-friendly workplaces are not just about additional benefits, but about investing in a culture of trust, support, and long-term employee wellbeing. Companies that recognize these needs build a more authentic employer brand and create a supportive work environment where every employee feels valued. At the same time, such measures represent a powerful tool for changing discriminatory gender norms and achieving a more equal distribution of unpaid care, enabling both women and men to pursue their professional ambitions as well as make choices related to parenthood.
Regional project the "Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies for the Private Sector in the Western Balkans - Phase 2" is supported by the International Partnerships Austria and implemented by United Nations Population Fund in close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and private sector, with active support from the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation.
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