For Employers | Benefit Packages
Working families, both dual earner and single parent, are the norm in Illinois and across the country. This trend is pushed by both a family’s ongoing financial need and the economy’s demand for workers to meet labor shortages.
Issues of child care are no longer considered exclusively an employee’s concern. These issues have consequences for employers as well. Productivity is affected by employee stress of balancing work and family. Evidence indicates that providing programs to create more stable child care arrangements reduces employee stress and increases productivity, morale and retention.
Many employees seek work environment that enable them to integrate parenthood with employment. Workers today are better educated and expect more consideration from their employers regarding the work and family. As a result, a shift in the overall philosophy of business has created an emphasis on employees. A commitment to support employees’ child care needs is one way employers can invest in their business.
Needs Assesment
Before deciding the best work / life benefits for your employees, it is sometimes helpful to get feedback from them. CCR&R staff will develop a needs assessment for your company, done anonymously, to encourage honest feedback. This assessment includes collecting, tabulating, and summarizing the results.
Enhanced Referrals
Employees call CCR&R, identify themselves as a member of a corporate contract, and talk to a Child Care Specialist who will help them identify their child care needs. The specialist will supply the parent with a profile on each provider, listing the information such as scheduling options, activities, and rates on each provider.
The child care specialist will also:
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Call potential providers to verify their availability, saving employees time.
- Perform continual follow-up / consultation with the employees until care is foud, or service is no longer needed.
CCR&R will visit employers once a year to set up table or display explaining this benefit to employees. Employers also receive a quarterly report detailing activity for the quarter, as well as an annual summary.
On-Site Assistance
CCR&R Child Care Specialists will be available to meet personally with employees to help them find child care. Employees will leave with a list of providers to call, as well as information and personal consultation on what to look for in quality child care, including questions to ask providers. Typically done at lunch hour, extended breaks, or before / after work shifts, this personalized option requires minimal equipment from the employer: electrical outlets, a phone jack, and space to set up in a break room, human resources office, etc.
Fax Packs
Employers purchase fax packs to have available for employees. Employees fill out an intake form and fax it to Child Care Resource & Referral. A corporate specialist reviews the intake form and begins the search for providers who may be able to meet the employee’s needs. The specialist faxes the referral to the employee with 1-2 business days. The employee also received a checklist of questions to ask as they interview child care providers.
