Setting up childcare policies.[check] This checklist provides guidance for those responsible for the implementation of a childcare policy within an organisation. It focuses on the general principles and considerations involved; specific policy options, such as workplace nurseries or childcare vouchers, are described in the Glossary A term used by Microsoft Word and adopted by other word processors for the list of shorthand, keyboard macros created by a particular user. See glossaries in this publication and The Computer Glossary. of terms. The provision of help with childcare is increasingly viewed as a valuable benefit by employees, as it assists them in balancing work and domestic responsibilities. On the employer's side, childcare is seen as a means of retaining staff and contributing towards equal opportunities objectives. Definition A childcare policy is a voluntary scheme put into practice by the employer to provide, or to help to provide, care for the children of employees during working hours. The aim of such a policy is to enable primary carers to return to work despite childcare responsibilities. Care may be provided for children of all ages and can be implemented in a single scheme, or as a combination of a number of childcare options (see the Glossary of terms). To comply with equal opportunities legislation, childcare provision has to be made available to both male and female employees. Advantages of setting up childcare policies * Experienced and skilled staff are able to return to/continue in work, reducing recruitment and training costs. * A wider range of applicants may be attracted for vacant positions. * The image of the firm is enhanced, as it is seen to be a caring and employee-friendly organisation. Workplace nurseries * Parent and child are on site allowing access for parents to their children at lunchtimes or in emergencies. * Workplace nurseries are a tax-free tax-free adj. Not subject to taxation; tax-exempt. tax-free Adjective not needing to have tax paid on it: a tax-free lump sum Adj. 1. benefit. * Nurseries can provide a beneficial environment for children. Buying places at local nurseries * Start-up Start-up The earliest stage of a new business venture. costs for employers are eliminated. * Nursery management responsibilities are avoided. Childcare allowances * These are much cheaper than paying for nursery provision and can be used in the parents' local area. * Parents are able to choose the form of childcare they prefer Childcare vouchers * can purchase almost any form of childcare * can only be cashed in exchange for childcare * are subject to a number of tax benefits for employers and employees * can be used in the parents' local area. Information/Advisory services * This is a low cost scheme which requires less management and administration to run than other options. Disadvantages of setting up childcare policies * Staff without children may feel resentful re·sent·ful adj. Full of, characterized by, or inclined to feel indignant ill will. re·sent  ful·ly adv. of benefits they will
not receive.
Workplace nurseries * They are expensive to set up and run. * They must be registered with the local authority's social services social services Noun, pl welfare services provided by local authorities or a state agency for people with particular social needs social services npl → servicios mpl sociales department and are subject to annual inspection. * Not all parents would wish, or find it possible, to commute TO COMMUTE. To substitute one punishment in the place of another. For example, if a man be sentenced to be hung, the executive may, in some states, commute his punishment to that of imprisonment. with their children to work every day. * Facilities have to be found to house the nursery within the building or nearby, which could prove costly and deny space to other departments in the organisation. Buying places at local nurseries * This option can be expensive and may be considered a taxable benefit. * Nurseries where places have been bought may not be convenient for all. Childcare allowances * These are subject to tax and national insurance. * Administration is needed to establish selection criteria for employees entitled en·ti·tle tr.v. en·ti·tled, en·ti·tling, en·ti·tles 1. To give a name or title to. 2. To furnish with a right or claim to something: to financial assistance. * There is no guarantee that the allowance will be spent on childcare. Childcare vouchers * Service charges have to be paid to the issuing company. * Their usefulness is limited if there is inadequate childcare provision in the area where the recipients of vouchers live. Action checklist 1. Examine the short term and long term needs of the firm for the provision of childcare Will a childcare policy benefit the organisation in the long term justifying high initial costs? Is there a demand for a childcare policy? 2. Obtain the full commitment of top management to the implementation of a childcare policy and appoint a project team Without overt Public; open; manifest. The term overt is used in Criminal Law in reference to conduct that moves more directly toward the commission of an offense than do acts of planning and preparation that may ultimately lead to such conduct. OVERT. Open. commitment from the top, the policy has little chance of success. Establish who will be responsible for the implementation and management of the policy. This is important, as the implementation of a childcare policy is a long term commitment and quality of provision is essential. Consequently the individuals involved must be prepared to be scheme champions. A project team should be assembled as·sem·ble v. as·sem·bled, as·sem·bling, as·sem·bles v.tr. 1. To bring or call together into a group or whole: assembled the jury. 2. to collect and assess information and help formulate formulate /for·mu·late/ (for´mu-lat) 1. to state in the form of a formula. 2. to prepare in accordance with a prescribed or specified method. policy. This should include a member of the Personnel Department. 3. Ascertain all the policy options available Ensure that the implications of each policy are thoroughly researched, including: costs; legal regulations; which options are and are not available in the immediate vicinity of the workplace; and the location of the workforce in relation to the workplace. 4. Consult employees Having decided which options would be practical to implement, present them to employees and survey their attitudes to the choices open to them. Which policy would they prefer and why? 5. Formulate policy Taking the views of employees into full account, and the requirements and preferences of the firm, choose one, or a combination, of the options. 6. Draw up a business plan detailing policy Set time scales for implementation, and estimate implementation and ongoing costs. Ensure that regulations governing gov·ern v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns v.tr. 1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; exercise sovereign authority in. 2. each method of childcare provision are adhered to and that all relevant organisations are kept informed of the implementation of policy. The scope of provision should be outlined in the plan. Establish the rate of any fees / allowances / contributions. If applicable, decide the range of hours provision will cover, and ascertain any limits in numbers in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers. See also: Number of employees who will be covered by provision. 7. Launch the scheme Inform employees of the final childcare policy decision some time in advance of the scheme's launch, as many parents in work will already have made childcare arrangements with family, friends or providers of childcare in their area. After the launch, allow time for parents to adjust to the service, and for numbers of participants in the scheme to increase. 8. Review the scheme Assess and monitor standards continuously to ensure that childcare policies meet the needs of the organisation, the employees and their children. Dos and don'ts for setting up childcare policies Do Recognise that a childcare policy is a long term commitment. Plan thoroughly, exploring every childcare option available. Seek advice on legal and financial implications of any policy decision. Don't don't 1. Contraction of do not. 2. Nonstandard Contraction of does not. n. A statement of what should not be done: a list of the dos and don'ts. Rush planning or implementing a childcare policy. Impose a policy on staff without consulting them. Expect immediate, quantifiable Quantifiable Can be expressed as a number. The results of quantifiable psychological tests can be translated into numerical values, or scores. Mentioned in: Psychological Tests results. Glossary of terms Workplace nurseries are usually on site or located in nearby premises provided by the employer. They can be run in-house In-house In the context of general equities, keeping an activity within the firm. For example, rather than go to the marketplace and sell a security for a client to anyone, an attempt is made to find a buyer to complete the transaction with the firm. or by a contractor who specialises in nursery care provision. Some organisations work in partnership with another firm to provide nursery facilities, thus sharing the costs and management responsibilities. Purchased places in nurseries enable employers to provide their employees with guaranteed places in local nurseries for their children. In some cases the costs are absorbed by the firm, in others they are passed on to the employee. Childcare allowances are paid directly to the individual employee in the form of a cash payment, or are placed in a childcare fund. Childcare vouchers work in a similar way to luncheon vouchers luncheon voucher Noun Brit a voucher for a specified amount issued to employees and accepted by some restaurants as payment for food Noun 1. and are issued by Childcare Vouchers Ltd., a division of Luncheon Vouchers Ltd. Employers obtain vouchers up to a certain value, which they then distribute to employees who need them. Vouchers can obtain any form of childcare provision and the provider then redeems them from the issuer at face value. Holiday/After school provision enables parents, who have children of school age and whose hours of work do not correspond with school times, to obtain care. These are often run by local councils, church groups or local clubs and societies. A government initiative provides funding distributed through local TECs for those establishing out-of-school adj. 1. not attending school and therefore free to work; as, opportunities for out-of-school youth s>. Adj. 1. out-of-school - not attending school and therefore free to work; "opportunities for out-of-school youth" group provision. Flexible working means that the working hours for employees deviate from the 9-5 norm. Options include flexible working hours, term time working, job share schemes and voluntary reduced work time. Useful reading Book Childcare choices for families that work: a handbook
This article is about reference works. For the subnotebook computer, see .
London, city (1991 pop. 303,165), SE Ont., Canada, on the Thames River. The site was chosen in 1792 by Governor Simcoe to be the capital of Upper Canada, but York was made capital instead. London was settled in 1826. , 2003 Journal articles Childcare support IDS HR Studies, no 799, Jan 2005 Flexible childcare provision: the options for employers, Alison Alison betrays old husband amusingly with her lodger, Nicholas. [Br. Lit.: Canterbury Tales, “Miller’s Tale”] See : Adultery Clarke Equal Opportunities Review, no 134, Oct, 2004, pp15-20 Useful addresses National Childminding Association, 8 Masons Hill, Bromley, Kent, BR2 9EY Tel: 020 8464 6164 www.ncma.org.uk ChildcareLink--Government-funded service providing details of local Children's Information Services See Information Systems. . Tel: 08000 96 02 96 www.childcarelink.gov.uk Daycare Trust, 21 St George's Road St George's Road is a road in Southwark, London SE1 running between Westminster Bridge Road to the northwest and Elephant and Castle to the southeast. St George's Cathedral is on the north side and the Imperial War Museum is on the south side opposite, at the junction with , London SE1 6ES Tel: 020 7840 3350 www.daycaretrust.org.uk Parents at Work, 1-3 Berry Berry, former province, France Berry (bĕrē`), former province, central France. Bourges, the capital, and Châteauroux are the chief towns. Street, London EC1V 0AA Tel: 020 7253 7243 www.parentsatwork.org.uk Thought starters * What is your labour turnover rate? * How many people with childcare responsibilities leave? How much does it cost to replace them? * Do you know people in your organisation who would value help with childcare? |
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