National surveys on employers’ perceptions
of the benefits of child care programs report increased productivity, improved
recruitment and retention and lower stress levels as motivations for child
care assistance. Workers are more likely to be more productive and satisfied
on the job when they work in jobs that support their individual and family
needs.
An employer’s response to the child care needs of its employees
depend on the company’s size, industry, location and economic condition.
A decision about whether to implement a child care assistance program should
take into account three important factors:
- a careful investigation of employees' child care needs and preferences;
- employers’ goals and resources;
- the supply of and demand for child care services which already exist
in the community.
A consideration of the variety of programmatic alternatives should also
be a part of the decision-making process, including costs, potential risks
or liability, and the program's capacity for addressing already determined
employee needs, if indeed any type of assistance is found to be warranted.
Selecting the Best Child Care Solutions
The best solutions will solve child care problems for enough employees
to have the desired impact on management goals such as absenteeism and
recruitment. A multifaceted approach might be required in order to address
the different types of difficulties experienced by the work force.
There are many different types of programs from which employers can select
their own approach:
Direct Services
- on-site/off-site center
- consortium centers
- summer/weekend camps
- family child care networks
- emergency care
- sick child care
- school-age care
Financial Assistance
- vouchers/reimbursement
- flexible spending accounts
- contributions to community resources
- flexible leave policies (flex-time, job sharing, flexiplace, telecommuting,
part time, compressed work week
- public-private partnerships
Information Services
- resource and referral
- educational services
Employees’ Child Care Needs and Preferences
Designing a child care assistance program to fit the unique features
of a given organization requires careful assessment of employee child care
needs. These needs may be elusive if employees believe that providing information
on problems associated with their family responsibilities may be used against
them. It is important for employers to allay employees' anxieties about
the intent of any data gathering process. Also, employees are seldom aware
of the different forms of assistance which may be available from the employer,
and therefore may not request help although they may find it helpful.
A good needs assessment will tell:
- what kinds of child care needs employees have (time of day, location,
child’s age);
- which groups of employees have the most needs;
- what impact these needs have on work;
- what types of child care assistance programs would address needs most
effectively.
Detailed information about employees' current arrangements and how well
they are working is the best predictor of the ultimate success of a proposed
program. Gathering these types of data is more effective than simply asking
working parents whether they would anticipate using a nonexistent program
that the employer might install, but with which they have never had experience.
The most popular method for collecting data is the employee survey. A
survey gives the most accurate and complete information from which to make
a decision. When it is well advertised, employees are more responsive.
Focus groups or small discussion groups are an alternative data gathering
method which small companies often find more cost effective, and they can
be an adjunct to a survey. The information they provide, however, is less
quantitative. Focus group participants may be selected from each of the
important segments of the employee population so that key groups of employees
are represented. Child Care Resource & Referral can help you develop
and compile a needs assessment, as well as provide comprehensive information
about child care availability in your community.
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