Dependant care initiatives (Workplace programs, policies and practices)

Dependant care initiatives

Emergency child-care

Definition:

Employees may sometimes need emergency child care because their child-care centre or usual caregiver cannot look after their child or because they have to work overtime. A company generally makes arrangements with a community organization or private company that specializes in this type of service.

Considerations:

• This measure may help lessen the stress experienced by employees since they know they have access to emergency child-care services.
  
  
• It may help lower the rate of unexpected employee absenteeism.
  
  
• However, this measure must not be used to force an employee to use the service or authorize a manager to change the employee’s schedule without notice because the manager knows that the employee can use the service.
  
  
• The costs associated with such a measure may be high.
  
  
• The managers must promote and be able to refer their employees to such services.

Emergency eldercare

Definition:

Employees may need emergency care for an elderly person whom they care for because they cannot do it themselves (for example, they have to work overtime unexpectedly). Such services may entail outside-the-home or in-home care. A company may make arrangements with a community organization or private company that provides such services.

Considerations:

• This measure may help lessen the stress experienced by employees.
  
  
• However, this measure must not be used to force an employee to use the service or authorize a manager to change the employee’s schedule without notice because the manager knows that the employee can use the service.
  
  
• This measure may help lower the rate of unexpected employee absenteeism.
  
  
• The costs associated with such a measure may be high.
  
  
• The managers must promote and be able to refer their employees to such services.
  
  

Financial assistance for child-care expenses

Definition:

Some employers offer financial assistance to their employees rather than set up a child-care service. This assistance may be paid directly to the employees or may subsidize a space in an existing child care centre.

Considerations:

• This measure may help lessen the stress experienced by employees since they can manage their personal life more effectively.
  
  
• It allows employees to choose the child-care service that best meets their needs. Some employees may prefer to have their children looked after close to home or by a member of their family.
  
  
• This measure may be easier to administer than a child-care service and may also not be as costly.
  
  
• The managers must promote and be able to refer their employees to such services.

Information and referral service

Definition:

Employees who have dependants may need an information and referral service so that they can obtain information, advice and recommendations about available services. More and more businesses and community organizations are specializing in this type of service.

Considerations:

• This measure may help lessen the stress experienced by employees since they can manage their personal life more effectively. It also helps lower the rate of absenteeism by reducing the number of calls and visits employees need to make before choosing a service.
  
  
• This measure is inexpensive and easy to implement. It fits in well with a program designed to help employees balance their work and personal life.
  
  
• Confidentiality is very important.
  
  
• The information in the service’s data banks must be comprehensive and updated regularly.
  
  
• The managers must promote and be able to refer their employees to such services.

Workplace child-care

Definition:

Employees may have their children looked after at or near the workplace. The child-care centre may be owned by the company or be managed by a board of directors that includes representatives of the company and parents whose children go to the centre. It is sometimes also open to children in the community. It must comply with provincial and municipal regulations. Work-related child care centres accept preschoolers and infants.

Considerations:

• This measure may help lessen the stress experienced by employees. Parents may have easier access to a child care service.
  
  
• A work-related child care centre may accommodate the company employees’ schedules more readily.
  
  
• It may be perceived as an important employee benefit and be conducive to the recruitment of new employees.
  
  
• If the centre is open to children in the community, this measure may help improve the company’s image.
  
  
• For a company, the costs of such a measure may be high. Employers generally contribute by paying an amount that covers the rent, start-up costs, etc.
  
  
• It is important to assess employees’ needs carefully by conducting a proper survey.
  
  
• Managers must promote and be able to refer their employees to such services.

References:

• Vanier Institute of the Family, The Manager's Work-Family Toolkit. Nepean, 1998.
  
  
• Stanton, Danielle. Travail-famille : un tandem de coeur- et de raison : guide destiné aux milieux de travail / - [Québec] : Bureau québécois de l'Année internationale de la famille, 1994. (in french)