Non-Traditional Child Care: Employer Work Group Options & Drop-In Day Care

Revolutionizing the Way Our Children Are Cared For

Each and every day, parents make the challenging decisions with regard to child care services. For many parents, working a typical 9 to 5 schedule affords them the opportunity to find traditional childcare with ease. For some parents, however, the typical workday does not involve a 9 to 5 schedule, leaving many children in a quandary over who will care for them.

In an effort to resolve nontraditional childcare dilemmas, there are several opportunities afforded to employees today. In programs referred to as "Work Options", employers are providing employees with optional childcare services and benefits.

One such option involves the use of in-home childcare, or nanny, services with employer donated dollars. While many employers do not cover the full cost of nanny services, there is some funding or dollar support to families who work outside of the traditional 9 to 5 schedule. With nanny services, many families find their children are given opportunity to be cared for while still in their own home setting, reducing stress and anxiety associated with displacement outside of the home.

In some communities, there is a growth in a unique childcare option known as drop-in day cares. Offering childcare services as late as midnight and, in some cases, for 24 hours, these drop-in facilities provide parents a unique option.

While strictly regulated by state guidelines, drop-in child care facilities are usually limited to the number of days they can care for a particular child in a one month period. However, for parents who only experience periodic shift fluctuations, such as the on-call nurse, the drop-in child care is a great option, often not requiring reservation.

While many childcare expenses are tax deductible, parents find they are still unable to meet the costs associated with these nontraditional childcare services. For this reason, many employers across the United States are now offering support, in terms of dollars, to parents who must find nontraditional childcare services. Using the "Work Options" program, dollars and resources for childcare are at the core of success for employee attendance.