Employers & Childcare

23 March 2006:

Finding good quality, affordable childcare can be one of the biggest challenges facing parents, but employers could be doing a lot more to lessen the hassle and ease the financial burden on staff, the TUC said today. A new TUC guide, 'Who's looking after the children?' highlights a number of ways employers can help with childcare.

These include:

- Joining forces with other local employers to offer a crèche for all employees to use
- Introducing childcare vouchers - which are tax exempt for both employer and employee - or childcare subsidies
- Allowing parents the flexibility to change their hours to fit in with nursery drop off and pick up times.

For more information contact Business Link Wessex by phone for a copy of the HM Revenue & Customs guidance on 'Employer Supported Childcare' or email them to request a copy of the ACAS guidance 'Working Parents' :

Tel: 08454 58 85 58

Email: [advice@businesslinkwessex.co.uk]

Website: [www.businesslinkwessex.co.uk]