'Double standards' over childcare

Working mothers are not always well provided for by their employers

Many of the UK's top companies have been accused of practising double standards over attitudes to childcare.

While most say they recognise the need to help staff with children, only a handful offer practical measures to do so, according to new research.

The disparity is revealed in the findings of a survey carried out among some of the UK's top 500 companies, and published to coincide with National Childcare Week. They showed that only one in 20 firms offerd a workplace nursery.

The Daycare Trust, which commissioned the survey, has warned that if companies do not improve, they risk losing valuable staff.

Among the key findings revealed by the research company Mori were:

• 74% of firms agree there is a case for companies to introduce family friendly policies.

• 73% feel employers have a moral responsibility to provide family friendly policies.

• 23% offer childcare and family helpline information services to staff.

• 5% of companies provide a workplace nursery.

Those companies which did provide facilities claim the long-term benefits are worthwhile. Nearly 60% said it helped recruit female staff while 83% believed it helped retain them.

Daycare Trust Director, Colette Kelleher, said: "There is a strong business case for investing in childcare.

"With increasing numbers of mothers with young children returning to work, employers need an effective childcare infrastructure as much as roads and railways.

"No-one is suggesting employers should foot the entire bill for childcare in this country. But they have an important role to play and significant benefits to gain by developing childcare in the UK."

The Chief Executive of London Chamber of Commerce, Simon Sperryn, backed the call for greater childcare provision in the workplace.

But he pointed out that smaller companies often have their hands tied, because they cannot afford to provide facilities such as crèches.

"Many companies are becoming aware of the significant benefits of adopting family-friendly polices," he said.

"However, smaller companies cannot afford to be so flexible, nor can they provide such things as workplace crèches," he added.

These companies are looking for further investment from the government in affordable and high-quality childcare facilities, he said.

Among other results in the survey were:

• 81% agree the government should help employers implement such policies.

• 80% think the government should offer financial incentives, such as tax breaks.

• 88% do not think working mothers make less reliable staff members.

• 65% agree their company should do more to help working parents.

• 2% have reserved nursery places schemes.

• 5% make a contribution to nursery costs.

• 3% have after school clubs for employees' children.