Chapin Hall

Making a Difference from Everywhere: Chapin Hall Transitions to Fully Remote Workforce

Chapin Hall is committing to an organization-wide fully remote work policy for all staff by December 2024. This staff benefit underscores one of the organization’s core principles: That inclusivity is the strongest foundation for impactful research and policy. For staff, this shift demonstrates Chapin Hall’s commitment to flexibility, work-life balance, and tapping into diverse talents from across the country. For partners, it means greater access to experts who are where they are and who understand their unique operational climate.

Even prior to the pandemic, Chapin Hall offered flexible work hours that helped staff manage their full lives. Not being bound to a fixed office location also allows employees the freedom to structure their work days around family needs, external appointments and other obligations.

“Issues negatively affecting our nation’s children and families are not limited to one location, nor should the professionals working on related research and policy be,” said Chapin Hall Executive Director Bryan Samuels. “We are excited that geography can no longer limit our potential to have the most diverse, talented and dedicated team in our field.”

Recent studies demonstrate that remote work benefits both employees and employers. For example, a  2023 study from the Pew Research Center reported that 71% of those who work from home all, most or some of the time say doing so helps them balance their work and personal lives. That includes 52% who say it helps them a lot with this. In 2022, a study led by Stanford economist Nick Bloom showed that working from home reduced average attrition rates by 33%. His research also illuminated improved self-reported work satisfaction scores that equate to an 8% salary increase. Thirty-five percent of those preferring to be fully remote say they feel more productive with that arrangement and 29% cite having fewer distractions, according to a 2021 Gallup poll.

“Chapin Hall employees already working remotely have repeatedly expressed the value of the benefit to them and their families,” said Chapin Hall Human Resources Director Jelita Bridgeforth. “Aside from aiding many with parenting, working from home has allowed many employees to care for ailing relatives and pets, to better manage their own health conditions, and increase their travel and professional development opportunities.”

Chapin Hall policy analyst Charlotte Goodell and her family moved states several times over the past few years due to her husband’s school and work obligations. She has been taking advantage of flexible hours and remote work the whole time. “I’ve been able to take the job with me wherever I’ve gone,” said Goodell. “It’s been a lifesaver for me since 2020!”

The remote work policy adds to the progressive benefits package offered by the organization. Last year, Chapin Hall introduced a new paid parental leave policy that offers 12 weeks of paid parental leave to benefits-eligible employees who give birth; the spouses or domestic partners of those who give birth; those who adopt or use surrogacy services; and those who become caregivers as the result of court-ordered placement of a child, including, but not limited to, foster care and kinship placement.

Learn more at the “Why Work at Chapin Hall” page. And read these stories and watch this video to hear more about Chapin Hall staff experience with remote work.