An article about " Day Care Centre at Workplace "

Day Care Centre at Workplace

A crèche established at the work place is a wise investment. Management could retain the skilled work force which, if stress-free could give its undivided attention to the job.

The last few decades had witnessed a rapid increase in the numbers of career -oriented women.  They constitute a sizeable chunk of the total workforce. Economic considerations so as to lead an independent life, break-down of the joint family system which forces the parents to seek employment to make both ends meet and in some cases being a single parent with the onerous burden of looking after herself and the children are some of the compelling forces making women go for jobs. These along with problems like families relocating to different places looking for better prospects and job transfers out of one's home towns are instrumental in creatingthe concept of a day care facility at workplaces. This is definitely an unique brand of niche marketing targeted at lessening child-related stress of employees to enhance their productivity.

Observing the practical reality IT ventures and MNCs had taken the lead and initiative. Being ever progressive organizations with a distant and futuristic vision, they are intent on tapping and retaining talented workforce by keeping them more focused, more satisfied and in return as a natural result, more productive. They feel that investing in the facility is a utilitarian business strategy with tangible economic returns from negligible child-related absenteeism. From the employees' point of view, raising an emotionally secure child does not mean it's curtains for that challenging and lucrative job.

A crèche at the workplace is the perfect compromise in having to manage both business dynamics and child care simultaneously.

In a typical example, geared to accommodate 18 to 20 pre-schoolers in the age group of 4 months to 6 years, from 9 am to 6 pm, a space of around 1800  to  2000 sqft, including approximately 700 sqft of outdoor space will be most comfortable. The ideal location will be the ground floor within a dedicated entrance and exit. A building that incorporates a provision for such a facility at the planning stage adds greater value to its rental prospects. The unavailability of such a provision need not deter the Management from acquiring a three - bed room house rented alittle distance away from the main building, and parents and children alike feel reassured of this proximity.

The management, maintenance and staff of the crèche are outsourced from accredited maintenance agencies. A team of specially trained caretakers, and a couple of cleaning attendants are supervised by an experienced crèche supervisor. The viable ratio of caretaker to child is 1:3, while one caretaker for every two babies ensures maximum personal attention.

So as to stimulate the mood of children to inspire imaginative play, it would be better if the main indoor area be in bright colours. Miniature plastic tables and chairs are lightweight and attractive to the kids.

Music system and TV ensure ample and pleasant entertainment. Vinyl flooring is a safe way to cushion the baby falls that is bound to occur. The toddlers' bedroom could have about 6 to 7 scaled down bunk-beds lined against the wall. These are space-saving and functional for midday naps.

The babies' cribs should be located in a separate room, as far removed as possible from the entrance and noisy play areas. A changing table and a few chairs for nursing mothers are the other essential furnitures required here. Adjoining the bedrooms, a storage area with wall cupboards is necessary to hold toiletries, clothes, linen, feeding bottles and the like. In addition to a hot plate or hole, refrigerator and storage cabinets, a microwave oven in the kitchen is a must to heat up milk and home-cooked food. For reasons of safety no food is cooked here.

Outside, in the play yard, a slide, seesaw and a swing will keep them in buoyant spirits  and the presence of a sand pit in the middle is a fun way to be creative.

The initial furnishing investment and regular running cost per month, including rentals will be relatively normal. And an effective company strategy for creating and sustaining a crucial advantage, where the child is in safe hands and the parent is allowed to compartmentalize parenthood and work not only mutually benefiting the employer and the employee but also eventually the Nation.