An article on Business Week looked at the pros and cons.
Among the pros were reducing staff absenteeism and turnover, which (according to the US National Conference of State Legislatures) are caused more by childcare issues than any other family-related problem, and increasing productivity.
It is understandable that productivity could be increased through implementing childcare facilities at work (after all, a happy worker is a hard worker), and knowing that your kids are safe and sound and not too far away is a sure fire way to make mommies a bit less stressed.
But employers can also benefit from on-site childcare facilities, according to Business Week, who said that a cost-benefit study in the US found that the Union Bank in Pasadena's on-site day-care programme was saving the firm $138,000 to $232,000 in annual operation costs as turnover and absenteeism had both drastically decreased.
Furthermore, it was found that even employees without children were willing to contribute to the costs of subsidising such a facility because they believed it would boost morale and productivity.
Of course with every debate there are two sides, and the opposing side of this debate is the ever-frowned-upon side of logic.
In reality businesses do not have the money to fund on-site childcare services and paid maternity leave is enough of a productivity booster already.
Also, children need more than just after-school or pre-primary care. They need to go to doctors when they're sick, babies need to be nursed and older kids need help with their homework - are companies expected to provide this as well?
These points are valid, but to me they cause much less of a problem than at first glance.
Yes, children need to go to the doctor, but you'd have to take them there anyway; if having your little ‘uns at work makes you work harder then surely every now and then when you've got to take them for a check up it can be excused?
And then there's the decreased operational costs introducing day-care facilities can bring, which, coupled with a subsidised payment from those who want the on-site childcare facilities (or everyone willing to chip in), actually seem to make it a pretty attractive deal for both companies and employees.
What do you think about the issue, should companies in SA investigate this more? I'd be interested to see the different perspectives of employees vs. employers.
- Ms Knowitall