Employers

Each day across Illinois, employers pay the price for gaps in local child care resources:

• absenteeism when parents stay home to care for ill children,
• lost productivity when parents are interrupted by telephone calls from unsupervised children at home,
• turnover when a shortage of available infant care prevents new parents from returning to work, and,
• reduced morale when employees cover for co-workers whose child care arrangements have fallen through.

Ultimately, child care issues affect work quality and business competitiveness. Chances are your employees have struggled with child care. Nationally, a third of all parents' child care arrangements fall apart within three months. As the economy expands, the impact of this situation will increase. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most new workers will be women with children under the age of six. What's more, over a quarter of single parents are now men. Additionally, a growing number of grandparents are raising their children's children. Child care issues are having an increasing impact on the workplace. Effectively assisting employees with child care doesn't have to be costly or require taking on the liability. Employer child care assistance programs typically fall into four categories: providing information, adopting flexible work hours and leave policies, providing financial assistance and creating or supporting child care services. Of course variations exist, and it is entirely possible that a combination of options might best suit your business and employees. To find out more about the these options and resources in detail, Download Illinois Child Care: Options for Employers.

Downloads
	Illinois Child Care: Options for Employers

Community Child Care Connection, Inc. also offers employers technical assistance on how to help their employees meet their child care needs. Information is provided regarding employer sponsored child care options and enhanced resource and referral contracts. Contact cccc@childcaresolutions.org or call 1-800-676-2805, extension 8132.