There are a wide variety of child care supports and benefits businesses may offer their employees. Some can be done within your company and others involve a wider community initiative. Many can be implemented with little or no cost to your company. These options include providing your employees with resources, work-life friendly policies, creating and supporting services, and educating employees about tax credits or public assistance available to them.
Provide Resources
Child Care: The Council offers child care resource and referral services. There is a FREE service available to your employees or you can provide enhanced services through our Dependent Care Service, including workplace seminars. You can add a link to our child care services to your intranet: http://www.childcarewestchester.org/parents_find_cc.php.
Elder Care: Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services is available at 914-813-6400.
2-1-1: Is a FREE community resource center for all Westchester County Residents through the Hudson Valley United Way. If dialing 2-1-1 does not work from your office phones, call them directly 1-800-899-1479.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are available at a low cost that provide numerous resources, such as assessments and referrals, short-term counseling, substance abuse professional services, legal and financial services.
Work-Life Friendly Policies
A positive work-life balance benefits employers and employees, alike. Employees who feel like they have a good work-life balance tend to work harder and be more productive. It’s not costly to offer your employees a balance: it comes down to providing supportive resources and establishing flextime, leave, or telecommuting options. The key is to ensure that your employees are aware of these options, because knowing they are available is what makes the difference, even if the services themselves are not highly utilized.
Lunch Time Seminars: Provide your employees with opportunities and support by offering work-life seminars during their lunch. For more information on seminars offeredby the Child Care Council of Westchester. Click here for a list or contact Nicole Masucci at nicolem@cccwny.org, 914-761-3456 ext 139
Ask your employees what they want: Click here for a sample survey. Evaluate what services or policies you may be able to offer. This will reveal if you should consider offering flextime, part-time options, telecommuting options or if your employees need assistance with child or elder care. To conduct a more detailed child care needs assessment, including exploring the options of on-site or near-site child care centers, back-up or odd-hour care, summer day camp and/or holiday care, call 914-761-3456 ext 139.
Benefits to employer:
Minimal investment with big payoff
Cuts absenteeism and improves morale
Assists with recruitment and retention
Potential to reduce absenteeism
Improves morale and productivity
Provide Information on Financial Assistance
Dependent Care Assistance Plans: Offers your employees financial support to pay for child care, elder care, or care for a disabled spouse or dependent.
Public Child Care Subsidies available for low-income families: Provides information for your employees who may be eligible.
Benefits Calculator for employees: New York State has developed myBenefits, a screening tool to help New York residents find out if they are eligible for a variety of health and human services programs. The site offers assistance with applications and other information including tax credits.
Benefits to employer:
Can be implemented by any size company
Requires little administrative responsibility
Available at no or low cost
No large start-up costs
