One of the significant challenges professionals around the world have to face is balancing their work and personal lives. Many of us often juggle the responsibilities of work, home, family, and friends. It is, however, essential to maintain work-life balance as a crucial part of self-care. Having a workload and increased responsibilities at home can have numerous adverse effects on a person’s health. So, it is best to choose a job or workplace that can encourage and support employees by providing flexible facilities.
Workplaces that are committed to providing suitable working environments to their employees can save on costs, face fewer cases of absenteeism, and enjoy a productive and highly-motivated team. In the present world, most of the work-life balance issues are generally faced by working parents since they are not able to take proper care of their children due to work pressure. In order to relieve the stress of working parents, many organizations have chosen to benefit their employees with an on-site daycare center facility. Here are the top reasons why workplaces should provide an on-site daycare facility to their employees:
Employee loyalty and greater productivity
According to an American survey, it was reported that 90% of the parents who avail of an on-site daycare facility resulted in increased concentration and productivity on the job. An employer offering their employees great convenience and flexibility is more likely to gain employee loyalty. This provides a source of high motivation for employees and raises the company’s success bar.
Promote gender equality
Offering an on-site daycare facility signifies that both men and women are equally valued and appreciated. Many households today include mothers who are earning to make their ends meet. We cannot forget dads who are similarly engaged as mothers in raising their children. With an on-site daycare, businesses can promote gender equality by offering essential support to both working women and men. This initiative would end up strengthening the company’s image as a socially responsible organization that believes in promoting gender equality and work-life balance.
Fewer cases of absenteeism
Generally, absences and delays are mainly linked to childcare problems. Offering a workplace daycare would result in fewer cases of absenteeism, primarily among women. It is more convenient for working parents to visit their children during breaks than take a day off to take care of them. Many mothers claim that jobs with daycare facilities make it easier for them to return to work after their maternity leaves. On-site daycare provides new breastfeeding mothers with a chance to check up on their children throughout the day and be able to work efficiently without any absences.
Attract new talent
Daycare facility is a prime factor for job seekers. So, offering a daycare facility in your organization could set you up to attract the best talent. It is not surprising to see that daycare facilities are gaining popularity in the current job market. Organizations can recruit from a greater talent pool by offering an on-site daycare facility. Companies like Google and Facebook have multiple daycare centers at different sites, which they use as effective recruiting and marketing tools.
Additional programs/policies
At present, it is becoming vital for workplaces to ensure such facilities since both parents are working and want their children to be taken care of in the right manner. Especially in this post-pandemic world, many families are facing additional challenges, including stress, social isolation, and financial crisis. It can also be used as a beautiful campaign if organizations come up with family-friendly initiatives as a good start.
Some of the additional family support programs include:
Return to work program: This program allows new mothers to return to work after their maternity leave at ease. Through this program, employers provide support options to motivate working parents to resume their careers and avail of free training, mentorships, and coaching workshops.
Family-friendly policies: Employers must ensure that family-friendly policies are implemented for all staff, regardless of gender or employment level. These policies include special health care needs, developmental and learning workshops, and mental health awareness programs to support the well-being of working parents and their children.