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| Do you think it is an employer's duty to help employees quit smoking? |
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Provide emergency support for working parents
Working parents have childcare problems on average nine times a year, with 89 per cent having to take time off as a result. How can employers support staff and keep the wheels turning when their childcare arrangements break down?
Even the best-laid childcare plans go wrong sometimes. The childminder falls ill, the nanny is called away on a family crisis - and at short notice, no-one is available to step in. In these circumstances, most employees have no choice but to take time off work. But now Accor Services has joined forces with an emergency childcare service to help bridge the gap.
Emergency Childcare is a web-based service that allows parents to book childcare on a flexible, ad hoc or daily basis. The site has UK-wide coverage with over 600 participating nurseries, a database of 1,000 registered childminders and access to a nationwide network of nannies.
All parents in receipt of Accor Services Childcare Vouchers are eligible to sign up to the scheme. Currently there is no charge for parents to register, and employers can even set up a customised site to contribute full or part-payment as an additional benefit.
How it works
Parents who are registered with the scheme can tap into the database, find out what childcare services are on offer in their area and see if places are available. Bookings can be made at extremely short notice if necessary - even on the morning of the day the care is required.
Payment can be made personally by parents with their debit or credit card or with Childcare Vouchers - or via the employer if they have chosen to cover the cost.
The Benefits
"The service allows parents to put a contingency plan in place," says Accor Services Product Manager Lynne Keeble. "They can do some research in advance into what emergency care is available in their area and perhaps visit potential providers to make sure they are happy with what's on offer. Then, if the worst does happen, they have a fall-back plan and it's simply a question of logging into the system to see what is available."
Although the service is undoubtedly a life-saver for last-minute, unexpected crises, it can also help parents plan ahead to cover a childminder's holiday, for example, or to provide a few extra days childcare when they can see a particularly busy time coming up at work.
"Research has shown that employees greatly appreciate this access to additional childcare support. Indeed studies have shown that 42 per cent of parents say availability of a back up care plan is an important factor for them when they are considering joining a company," says Lynne Keeble.
"It's a win-win situation for the employer. It is an effective way of helping to reduce absenteeism and can help to improve employee engagement at the same time."
To find out more about Childcare Vouchers click here. For more information about emergency childcare, visit www.emergencycare.co.uk
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Registered office: Accor Services, 50 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2RS The following trade under Accor Services & are registered in England
Childcare Vouchers: 2420196 Luncheon Vouchers: 540144 Cleanway: 1336372 VAT number: 649503520
©2007 Accor Services. The entire content of this newsletter publication is protected by copyright. Full details are available from Accor Services. All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission, in writing, of the copyright owner. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot accept any liability for inaccuracies.
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