Explore CCAoVA’s Free Employer Child Care Toolkit
Looking to boost retention, increase productivity, and become an employer of choice? Our comprehensive Employer Child Care Toolkit is your free resource for expanding child care support options for your employees, making quality child care more affordable for your workforce, and implementing family-friendly policies that help balance work and family life.
Our toolkit showcases success stories from across the Commonwealth and provides information about various child care support options, helping you explore what’s possible for your workplace. Let’s look at how Virginia employers are creating family-friendly environments that work for both their business and employees…
Virginia’s Employer Champions: Setting the Standard
Healthcare Leaders Show the Way
Bon Secours Hospital System in Richmond demonstrates the power of long-term commitment to employee child care. For over three decades, their Family Centers have provided quality care for children from six weeks to school age, strategically located across three hospital campuses. This on-site solution helps medical professionals focus on patient care, knowing their children are well cared for just steps away.
Innovation in Government and Military Settings
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Fairfax County showcase how public sector employers can excel in supporting working families. The Shipyard’s Child Development Centers offer DoD-certified, NAEYC-accredited care during standard work hours, while Fairfax County Employees Child Care Center provides a nurturing environment specifically designed around county workers’ needs.
Corporate Leadership in Action
Virginia’s corporate sector is equally impressive:
Freddie Mac in Tysons Corner offers a modern approach, combining subsidized backup child care with flexible work arrangements. Their innovative policy allows hybrid employees to choose up to four non-consecutive weeks of remote work annually.
Capital One partners with Bright Horizons Care Advantage, providing employees with up to 15 days of backup care annually, plus access to Sitter City for regular care needs.
Booz Allen Hamilton takes a comprehensive approach, offering dependent care assistance plans for pre-tax child care expenses, backup dependent care services, and 5-10% tuition discounts at national and regional child care providers.
Small Business Success Story
Latched Mama in Midlothian proves that size doesn’t limit family-friendly policies. This woman-owned business offers:
- 100 days of paid parental leave
- Babies-at-work policy up to 18 months
- Pregnancy and postpartum stipends
- Free lactation support
Higher Education Sets the Bar
Virginia’s universities demonstrate institutional commitment to child care support:
Virginia Commonwealth University provides:
- On-site child care for Health System employees
- Campus child care for School of Education community
- Youth programs through the Mary and Frances Youth Center
University of Virginia offers:
- Two NAEYC-accredited centers serving children from infancy to age 5
- Backup care options
- Dependent Care Assistance Plans
The Investment that Pays Off
Family-friendly workplace policies represent one of the most significant opportunities for businesses to gain a competitive advantage in today’s challenging labor market. The data is clear: companies that support working families aren’t just doing the right thing – they’re making a smart business investment that yields measurable returns in recruitment, retention, and productivity.
Recent studies demonstrate the compelling business case for family-friendly workplace policies:
- Enhanced Loyalty and Performance: Organizations implementing family-friendly policies report 80% greater employee loyalty and 41% lower absenteeism rates. These improvements contribute to a 21% increase in profitability.
- Virginia’s Workforce Challenges: The impact of child care issues on Virginia’s workforce is significant:
- 87,081 Virginia children under age 6 have parents who had to modify their work arrangements due to child care problems 1
- 133,785 Virginia parents are unable to work due to child care responsibilities 2
- 82,346 Virginia parents have reduced their work hours to care for children 2
- 85% of young families in Virginia find infant child care costs unaffordable 3
- National Economic Impact: The child care crisis creates substantial economic losses annually:
The success stories of Virginia employers show that child care support isn’t just an employee benefit – it’s a strategic advantage. By investing in family-friendly policies and child care support, employers can address these challenges while building a more resilient, productive, and loyal workforce. The return on investment is clear: better business outcomes through reduced turnover costs, increased productivity, and enhanced ability to attract and retain top talent.
Family-Friendly Solutions for Every Workplace
While on-site child care makes headlines, there are many ways employers can support working families. Here are proven options that can fit any organization’s budget and culture:
Financial Support Programs
Dependent Care Assistance Plans (DCAPs)
These powerful tax-saving tools allow employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually in pre-tax dollars for child care expenses. Employers benefit too, saving on FICA and FUTA taxes for these contributions. This makes DCAPs a win-win solution for organizations and their employees. Learn more.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Similar to DCAPs, FSAs let employees reserve up to $3,300 annually in pre-tax dollars for health-related expenses. These accounts help families manage medical costs while providing tax advantages for both employees and employers. Learn more.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Remote Work Options
Virginia is leading the flexible work revolution. Recent data shows that 30.6% of Virginia parents with children under 18 work either fully remotely or in a hybrid arrangement.2 This flexibility helps parents balance work and family responsibilities more effectively.
Predictable Scheduling
Scheduling predictability is crucial for working parents. Research shows that 29% of parents with children under age 6 receive only two weeks or less notice of their work schedule.5 By implementing predictable scheduling, employers can help parents arrange reliable child care and maintain better work-life balance.
Flextime Options
Multiple surveys 6 confirm that flexible scheduling is a powerful recruitment and retention tool. Allowing employees to adjust their work hours around family needs can significantly increase job satisfaction and loyalty.
Employee Support Services
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) – (Learn more.)
EAPs provide confidential support for personal and work-related challenges. These programs offer:
- Free assessments and short-term counseling
- Referral services for ongoing support
- Work-life balance resources
- Crisis management assistance
Take the Next Steps with Our Free Employer Toolkit
Ready to join Virginia’s leading employers in supporting working families? Our comprehensive online toolkit at ccavaemployerchildcaretoolkit.com provides:
- Information about various child care support options
- Details on financial benefits like DCAPs and FSAs
- Guidance on implementing flexible work policies
- Success stories from Virginia employers
- Resources for connecting employees with child care providers
- Information about tax benefits and incentives
Three Ways to Get Started Today:
- Visit ccavaemployerchildcaretoolkit.com to explore our free resources
- Learn from Virginia’s Employer Champions featured in our toolkit
- Contact our team at [email protected] to discuss your organization’s specific needs
Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, our toolkit helps you understand and implement the family-friendly solutions that fit your organization. Join the growing network of Virginia employers who are building stronger workplaces through family-friendly policies.
Visit ccavaemployerchildcaretoolkit.com today to begin your journey toward becoming a family-friendly workplace champion.
- 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau
- U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey, August 20 – September 16, 2024
- Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC), Virginia’s Self-Sufficiency Programs and the Availability and Affordability of Child Care, October 2023
- $122 Billion: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis, ReadyNation, Council for a Strong America, February 2023
- Work is Changing: How Will it Impact Child Care?, Bipartisan Policy Center, June 2021
- Howington, Jessica. “How Flexible Work Benefits Companies and Employees.” FlexJobs