Childcare is complicated; however, workplace nurseries are a great way to make employee’s lives less complicated by removing many of the obstacles and hurdles associated with finding day-care. Birchwood Park, the North West’s largest out of town business destination, has its own on-site nursery, a purpose-built facility led by the experienced nursery group Busy Nought to Fives. This feature will discuss the top five reasons why workplace nurseries are a must - benefitting both employers and employees in a number of key functions.
It is economically viable for both employers and employees
Over time, employees could save a serious amount of money if they utilise their on-site nursery. Often parents are forced to drive extra miles day after day, dropping off their kids at a nursery on a morning and picking them up later in the afternoon. A workplace nursery means no extra miles, and less money spent fuelling up. Employees at Birchwood Park save money each year by parking up at work, walking their child to the on-site nursery conveniently located right in the heart of the Park, and then heading to the office. A workplace nursery is ultimately less time consuming and money-saving.
A strong recruitment tool
Workplace nurseries are a great way to both attract and retain new talent at your business or organisation. As employees continue to return to the workplace following on from the COVID-19 pandemic and at home working, childcare is now firmly back on the agenda. For businesses looking to recruit new staff, a workplace nursery adds another incentive for a potential recruit to join, giving them reassurance that childcare is just a stone’s throw away should they need it.
At Birchwood Park, a number of occupiers and its employees use the Busy Nought to Fives nursery. New occupiers have cited how the nursery was a decisive factor in selecting Birchwood Park as the new office space, so it’s certainly beneficial for businesses looking to go above and beyond in their offering.
Reassurance
For employers and employees, having a workplace nursery just a walk away is a huge comfort. If any issues do occur, parents are already on-site to support. Parents can drop-in if the childcare provider calls to voice any concerns or the child takes ill, they can visit their child during a lunchbreak or go back to the nursery if they forgot to leave the child’s toys and accessories. It is a huge relief for both the child and the parent knowing they are just around the corner.
By providing workplace support for parents, Birchwood Park hopes to provide its occupiers’ employees the chance to work without the added stresses of complicated child care. This in turn encourages greater productivity, benefitting both the wider workplace and the employer.
Improves work/life balance
Driving to and from a childcare provider twice a day, five times a week, is incredibly stressful and can certainly impact an employee’s workplace wellbeing. Instead of spending this time travelling between work and the nursery, employees can have that time back to catch-up on work or chores, spend more quality time with their little one(s), or even enjoy more time for sleep and relaxation.
A greater work/life balance will benefit everyone. Employers should strive to cultivate a happier workforce and a workplace nursery does exactly that.
Supports the return to office working
Due to the COVID Pandemic and lockdown restrictions, many employees are still working from home and missing out on key learnings, activities and interactions only available to those in the workplace. For new parents, the return to work is made harder by childcare, despite the fact many are eager to work from the office more often.
Birchwood Park, like many, is trying to encourage A return to the office. Although the nursery was available before COVID, the Park believes by lifting the burden of finding a nursery for its occupiers, it will incentivise office-based working. A nursery on site makes new parents more open, or able, to return to the office. Everyone should be able to access office working should they want to, and employees with children are no exception.
