Tackling Childcare - A Guide for Employer-Supported Childcare

This report is based on practical insights from 10 companies and provides detailed information on the business case for employer-supported childcare, and how to design and implement a childcare strategy. Tackling Childcare is an initiative from IFC to better understand employer-supported childcare and to assess private and public sector dimensions to address childcare.

Designing a childcare strategy:

• Assess employees’ needs for childcare (i.e. availability, affordability, accessibility, quality)
• Review options for meeting employees’ needs including:
  1. Regular and/or intermittent childcare needs options: on-site childcare, cooperation with other companies, bring-your-child-to-work options
  2. Options for facilitating parental caregiving: maternity, paternity, and parental leave; breastfeeding; flexible work arrangements; information and referral services

Finalizing and implementing a childcare strategy includes:

• Review business goals and resources that support childcare strategy
• Understand the regulations and partnering possibilities
• Communicate widely and seek input
• Pilot programs
• Set baseline, establish metrics, assess program impact and success
• Integrate childcare strategy to broader corporate objectives (i.e. gender equality strategy)