This paper will examine the importance and relevance of child care facilities in the corporate set up in the modern world, especially in the context of the increasing number of employees that desire to have such facilities at their work place so that their work life is not disturbed and their earnings are not adversely impacted due to large instances of absenteeism for taking care of children. Employers too stand to gain a great deal if they provide such centers for their employees which results in smooth functioning of the company by way of lesser number of employees being frequently absent from work. This considerably reduces the cost incurred by employers on fresh recruitments and training and they can retain employees for longer periods in maintaining a consistent and stable environment within the organization.
It is well known that child care programs that are sponsored by employers yield a substantial return on corporate investment. In enabling programs that permit parents to go for work and bring about their full capacity in terms of work output from them, employers can avoid the recurrent costs pertaining to retaining and recruiting skilled employees. Such facilities greatly drive down turnover, reduce incidents of absenteeism and increase productivity at work. Hence corporate houses have come to realize that the work and dependent care programs initiated by them prove to be an investment on their employees as also in the consistent and unhindered success of their business. Such programs bring about credibility for employers in being preferred sources of employment in a labor market that is becoming increasingly tight. In the present corporate environment childcare facilities as provided by employers have become common parts of the package of benefits to employees which are almost the same as healthcare and vacation facilities. Having understood the importance of childcare in the work place and the impact that it has on performance of workers, many employers have started to offer a range of active programs in this regard.
The most common facilities on offer are the child care facilities at the site of work. Although the facilities are not fully paid for by employers, the same are usually located in very close proximity to the worker’s place of work and is controlled and supervised by a child care agency contracted by the employer. For several employees this proves to be a very good facility which has a major role in the decision making process for workers in deciding whether to accept the employment, which they may not have accepted had the facility not been provided. Additionally, corporate child care facilities provide an incentive to employees to visit the child any time of the day. Many companies have also started the practice of joining together in offering to employees a consortium child care center. Companies collaborate with each other in providing child care facilities at a single location that caters to employees of a few companies. The center is located at a convenient distance from such group of companies and in this way workers can get the same facilities as that of an on site child care center. Such arrangements are beneficial for companies that do not have a large number of employees to make their own individual center financially viable for them.
It is encouraging to note that as we progress into the twenty first century corporations in the USA are becoming savvier in providing benefits to employees in efforts to retain them and to attract new employees. Child care has come to become a major issue that affects performance and attendance of employees and it is always a good investment for employers to invest on providing such facilities at the place of work so as to bring about higher levels of productivity.
Research has indicated that a company with 100 employees will require day care facilities at the work place for children of its employees. On an average 26% of employees in any organization require the facility of day care centers for their children, otherwise they would consider leaving their jobs. Ninety percent of employees in an organization are in favor of having such facilities at the place of employment because the relevant data has indicated that parents of young children would leave their jobs within a year if not provided with the facility. The fact that absenteeism that is unscheduled, costs employers about $1000 per employee and family circumstances account for 21% of unscheduled absences, is clear indication of the need for childcare facilities at the place of work. Hence it is clear that a substantial percentage of the employees would prefer that child care facilities be provided, not only amongst those that have young children but also others who anticipate having children in the near future. If there are hundred employees in a given company,about 60 would require the facilities.
As per provisions of the Department of Public Health, all spaces used for day care facilities must comply with the applicable fire safety standards. Infants and toddlers have to be accommodated at the ground floor unless it is approved by the authorities through the given exception process. The travel distance and exit discharge for the toddlers should not be more than 150 feet. There has to be at least 35 square feet or area provided per child in daycare centers that are for children of over two years of age. If there are toddlers less than two years of age they would need to play and sleep in the same room for which a minimum of 55 square feet per child will be required. This space does not include storage areas, administration area, kitchens and bathrooms. All areas required for direct activities of children and gymnasiums have to be provided separately. Storage space has also to be provided for beddings, cots and other equipment. All indoor spaces must be provided in ensuring that there is a comfortable environment and adequate safety for the children. If there are 20 children of varying ages, the total space required for the day care center will be about 1500 square feet that will also include kitchen, administration areas and bathrooms.
If the conference room of the company is to be converted into an on site facility for child care the cost of acquiring the premises is done away with and the total cost will not be very substantial. There would be need for some essential modeling to be done in the conference room and then it would be required to provide for the equipment and to comply with the licensing laws of the state. Given that the facilities are required for about twenty children and the area required is 1500 square feet, the total approximate cost for setting up the day care facility in the conference room would be about $10000. This includes the cost of remodeling the conference room and the cost of acquiring equipment and expenses on the following:
- Licensing fees
- High Chairs and boosting seats
- First Aid
- Bedding
- Nap mats
- Playpens/portable cribs
- Safety devices
- Computers and Software
- Books
- Toys
Additionally, to make the day care center fully equipped with the best of facilities, the following would also be required:
- Education materials.
- Disposable gloves.
- Arts & crafts supplies.
- Good healthy food.
- Child-sized tables and chairs.
- Step stools for toilet and sink
- Containers for colors, pencils, markers and other art materials
- Record player or CD player, radio and tape recorder
The cost of the above items including the cost of remodeling the conference room will work out to about $10000.
References
Benefits of Employer-Sponsored Care, 2009. Web.
Christine Cadena, Corporate Child Care: Changes in the Workplace, 2007, Associated Contet, Business and Finance.
Munyaradzi Chinongoza, Cost Of Starting A Daycare Center, 2009. Web.
Section 407.370, Indoor Space, 2009. Web.