It's all in the family at Charter Oak Bank and Trinchero Family Estates.

These previous Family Friendly Workplace Award recipients proved their commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

"We don't work for work, we work to have a life," said Charter Oak Bank President and CEO Brian Kelly. Charter Oak received its award in 2006. Nominations are now begin accepted for the 2007 Family Friendly Workplace Awards.

Sponsored by the Napa County Child Care Planning Council, the initiative was created to champion local businesses that support the needs of employees with policies and practices that welcome families and promote work-life balance.

Examples of work-life benefits could include flex-time for T-ball games, pre-tax spending accounts or private areas for nursing moms.

According to spokeswoman Darlene Howell, who works for the Napa County of Education, "Any size employer can be recognized, from mom and pop to large corporations."

Winners are selected on a broad and unrestricted range of criteria, she wrote. Examples of winning criteria from past years included flex time, pre-tax spending accounts, child and dependent care benefit packages, family emergency funds, accommodations for nursing parents, and time to attend children's activities and events.

"If it supports work-life balance, it's family friendly," wrote Howell. "Being able to flex hours can mean mountains to families. The payoffs of offering family friendly work polices are tremendous."

Howell said the award is an opportunity for employees to recognize and thank their employers. "It gives them a venue to formally say how much they appreciate those family friendly opportunities," she said.

Nominations are increasing in the award's third year. In the first year, there were nine applications, said Howell. Last year there were 14. For 2007, Howell has 17 so far, with one month left in the process. Depending on nominations, up to one award per county city could be presented.

"The range of things that folks recognize to be a benefit varies widely based on the business setting or the industry. They can be very small benefits but make a big difference to the employee," said Howell.

Howell read from one of this year's nomination letters.

"'They treat their employees and their family as a whole entity. One does not function without the other.' That's very similar to the comments that came in from the employees at Charter Oak Bank, last year," she noted.

Brian Kelly of Charter Oak Bank said bank employees were "ecstatic" about last year's award. "It was a ratification of the culture we're trying to establish at Charter Oak Bank," said Kelly. "We started the organization with a concept to have a fair and equitable workplace. ... We want people to work and play hard. We're flexible with their time as they have needs outside the office.

"We're actively involved in the community. It's part of our concept. We probably donate a half a person a day to the community, with time off to support this board or that board. That's a cost of being family friendly. Yes, it's costly but in the long run if you take care of your staff, you can attract and retain good employees to support the organization."

Kelly said teamwork is a key requirement for a family friendly workplace.

"If the whole team believes in it and they are willing to support each other, then it works. That's a major part of it. It won't work unless the entire staff comes together as a team. The biggest cost is everyone pitching together and working as a team."

Charter Oak Bank was also recently recognized as one of the best places to work in the North Bay, by the North Bay Business Journal.

Trinchero Family Estates was the second winner of the 2006 Family Friendly Workplace Award.

Mark Bernardi said creating a family friendly workplace is worth the investment.

"It's a value and a commitment of the organization of who you are and who you want to be. There is some extra time and effort involved, but in the overall picture the total cost of being a family friendly workplace is insignificant. The return on the investment is paid back multifold."

The recognition the winery earned "was a way of saying were doing the right thing," said Bernardi. "Receiving the award validates what we are doing and we should continue that."

All nominated family friendly workplaces receive a certificate from the initiative. Winners receive a commemorative wall plaque, resolutions from legislators, and recognition at local Chamber of Commerce award dinners.

Howell expressed appreciation for local legislators, Rep. Mike Thompson, Assemblywoman Noreen Evans and Sen. Wes Chesboro participating in the award process. County Chamber of Commerce organizations also sponsor the awards.