Who’s Minding the Store? Who’s Watching the Kids?

This election season, the issue of childcare is a significant topic of conversation.

MULO (multi-location) brands are already challenged by labor shortages, rising minimum wages, and ongoing retention challenges. Add to that scheduling and expense challenges that arise from childcare duties and those challenges get even more complex.

Childcare costs in the U.S. are staggeringly high; as much as college tuition in some states.

More than a quarter of the workers in the fast food industry are parents and that percentage is likely the same or higher in retail and service businesses.

Ways MULO brands can support the working parents in their employee base are to:

• Open on-site daycare centers, like this clever coffee shop did
• Partner with national companies to negotiate discounts or special arrangements with local daycare locations
• Offer childcare benefits as a perk to employees. Even if a MULO brand can’t or won’t subsidize the cost of childcare, they can partner with companies like this that offer resources to working parents
• Utilize technology to manage schedules, ensuring that when people have childcare emergencies, other employees can quickly jump in to pick up their shifts

A recent study revealed that childcare benefits more than paid for itself across many brand companies, including Etsy, Steamboat Ski Resort, Synchrony, UPS, and Fast Retailing.

When parents know their kids are well cared for, they can focus on their jobs and be less stressed about coverage. This can have significant financial benefits for both the employee and management.

If you’re managing a MULO brand and are continuously fighting the “war for talent,” poll your team to understand if expanding your current childcare benefits and availability can help meet their needs and look at creative ways to support parents in the years ahead.

As we know, parenting doesn’t just have an impact on field workers. Watch for an upcoming article on how MULO brand and corporate management can prepare for family leaves!

For other innovative ways MULO brands are serving their customers and employees, join us at Street Fight LIVE on September 7th! (Many of our speakers are working parents themselves.)