Doing nothing about childcare is not an option, employerstold

 

30 May 2001

 

DaycareTrust and BUPA Children@work launch new handbook providing 'Childcare choicesfor families that work'.

 

Companies are today (Wednesday 30 May 2001) urged tobecome the 'employer of choice' and see their business benefit by helping theirstaff who are parents with dependent children.

 

Currently only one in ten working parents say their employerprovides help with childcare, according to a 2001 MORI survey commissioned by Daycare Trust. But a new handbookshows how employers can help meet the childcare needs of their staff - anddemonstrates the potential wins for employers and staff alike.

 

The 'Childcare Choices for Families that work' handbook ispublished today by Daycare Trust with support from BUPA Children@work at theend of National Childcare Week 2001.

 

The handbook provides a comprehensive guide to helpingbusinesses understand childcare issues in the workplace, flexible work optionsand 'leave' policies together with a guide to relevant legislation. Casestudies of large and small employers show how the policies can be put intopractice and the benefits that follow in recruiting and retaining staff andincreasing productivity.

 

The National Childcare Strategy now makes it easier foremployers to support the increasing number of working parents. The handbooksets out how employers can gain a place at the table and influence theplanning, management and delivery of childcare services in their area.

 

The MORI survey shows that parents' expectations of whattheir employer does to help them balance work and family life have increased inthe last two years.

 

Val Gooding, chief executive of BUPA, said: "As amother who works and as the chief executive of a large organisation, I havefirst hand experience of the childcare problems faced by employees and thechildcare challenges faced by employers. Flexible working practices and familyfriendly policies and benefits are becoming increasingly important. For many,childcare remains the key priority and employees need access to affordable,reliable and high quality childcare.

 

"Best practice means that doing nothing aboutchildcare is just not an option. BUPA is pleased to work with Daycare Trust toproduce this guide which will help employers understand the impact thatchildcare issues can have on their business and what steps they can take todeal effectively with those issues."

 

Stephen Burke, director of Daycare Trust, said:"Nearly 40 percent of the labour force are parents. Working parents nowhave greater expectations that their employers will help them balance work andfamily life. But still too few employers provide real help with childcare,despite the gains for both employer and employee. This new guide provides realpractical help for employers to provide childcare choices for families thatwork."

 

- ENDS -

Note to editors:

 

'Childcare Choices for Families that Work: A Handbook forEmployers' is published by Daycare Trust with the support of BUPAChildren@work. It is available price 12.50 from Daycare Trust, 21 St George'sRoad, London SE1 6ES tel: 020 7840 3350.

 

With the experience of providing childcare support forover 50,000 employees and operating a leading group of 25 nurseries, BUPAChildren@work is well placed to understand the stresses and strains of familylife. It's these credentials that allow BUPA Children@work to offer such comprehensivesupport, from helping organisations understand their childcare challenges toproviding flexible childcare services that address the varying needs of alltheir employees.

 

BUPA Children@work's national network of childcarespecialists is supported by a team of highly trained and qualified personnel,delivering high quality work-life solutions every day for major businessesaround the UK. Tel: 0845 300 3086; email: children@bupa.com; www.bupa.co.uk/childcare.

 

Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity. Itpromotes quality affordable childcare for all and advises parents, providers,employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues. Daycare Trustruns a childcare helpline for parents (020 7840 3350), open or callsMonday-Friday, 10am-5pm. Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk.

 

National Childcare Week 2001 is organised by DaycareTrust. Its theme of 'childcare voices, childcare choices' aims to highlight theimportance of listening to children and parents as childcare services expand.

 

For further information, contact Stephen Burke or MeganPacey at Daycare Trust on 020 7840 3350 (out of hours 020 8740 7877).