Predictable Employee Schedules

An unpredictable work schedule can make it difficult for working parents to schedule for their child care needs. Rotating schedules make it difficult for families to access consistent and quality child care because most programs cannot accommodate those family's schedules.

Parent and Caregiver Employee Resource Group (ERGS)

These resource groups build communities, connections, and resources for employees with caregiving responsibilities for children, family members, and loved ones. ERGs can help ensure parents at your organization can find the support they need. These groups can meet online or during lunch. They may be for parents, or you can plan events for both parents and children.

Offer Paid Family Leave for All Caregivers 

Data from the Department of Labor shows that 70% of fathers who take parental leave for the birth of a child take less than 10 days. New fathers want to take time with their child but we haven't create that corporate culture where this important leave is accepted.

Child Care Subsidies 

Child care is expensive, even if a parent only has one child in care. In some cases, a family's child care can cost as much as college tuition. Employers can help reduce the cost by simply subsidizing. You may offer direct payments to your employees with children and they can spend the money on what child care works best for their family, or businesses can partially subsidize the child care cost by paying child care programs directly.

On-Site Child Care

On-site child care is a highly effective but costly benefit for businesses. On-site child care means that parents can visit their child on lunch break and during commutes, rather than only see their child when they drop off or pick them up from child care.

Companies have options on how to open an on-site child care. You may want to connect with an outside company that specializes in running child care programs. There are national organizations you can explore, or a local child care program may be willing to expand and open a site for your company. You may also consider running a family child care network where you collaborate with small in-home licensed child care programs to provide care to your employees.

Some well known companies that have found success utilizing on-site child care include Google, Patagonia, Home Depot, Cisco, and Intermountain Health Care.

Flexible Employee Schedules

Providing flexible schedules is an effective and inexpensive way to support your employees. This allows working parents the chance to work without missing their children's activities and obligations. Flexible schedules work for all employees and give an opportunity for parents to meet family responsibilities including caring for elderly family members or a loved one with a disability or illness.