In 2022, UPS implemented a pilot program for emergency on-site childcare at a warehouse in California, after noticing that workers were regularly calling out sick due to unexpected gaps in childcare. The company found that the return on this investment was almost immediate: Retention increased from 69% to 96% among hourly workers, and UPS has … Read more
Google and General Mills have a collective market capitalization of more than $2 trillion. The companies share something else in common: In January, they both announced they are closing their on-site childcare centers. The situations are not identical: In Google’s case, the closures were part of a broader set of cost-cutting measures; while General Mills’ … Read more
There’s plenty of evidence that providing corporate benefits to support employees with fertility treatments and childcare costs is a worthwhile investment for companies. Caregiving benefits can be a strong driver of retention and an effective recruiting tool, with a not-insignificant portion of workers seeking new jobs to secure fertility coverage. A recent report—conducted by the … Read more
American mothers are facing an existential crisis. There have never been more of us, yet it doesn’t feel like it’s any easier. There are also nearly 44 million caregivers in this country—a disproportionate number of them women (75%). The tune of their free labor? $470 billion each year, a sobering figure only expected to grow … Read more
The pandemic upended the childcare industry, forcing providers to shut their doors—in many cases permanently—and leaving parents with even fewer options than they had prior. By now, the $24 billion in federal aid that was secured for the childcare industry during the pandemic has dried up, leaving many providers and parents in the lurch. All … Read more
Amid bitter cold and bitter division, a surprising bloom has appeared: the possibility of a bipartisan deal that would help America’s children and families. While imperfect, the proposed expansion of the Child Tax Credit would help stabilize hardworking families and lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. Given current political conditions, that’s a win. But … Read more
