Childcare pressures are a major part of working parents’ day-to-day experience. Arrangements can be complex, change frequently, and are very costly for parents. While most SMEs can’t provide formal childcare benefits (such as on-site childcare or nursery partnerships), there are many low-cost ways to support staff through Flexible Working and understanding.
“I think that as a small organisation, that childcare support would be beyond our scope, realistically. But what I hope is that the flexibility and the ability to work remotely really helps people out on that front.” (Alice – Employer, 10-49 staff)
Did you know? Although the government recently enhanced its childcare support (see Get childcare: step by step – GOV.UK), childcare costs in the UK are still among the highest in Europe.
It is important to note that business and staff needs (e.g., when the child starts school) keep changing and support arrangements thus need to be revisited as required.
Supportive practices
In SMEs, Flexible Working is one of the most helpful forms of childcare support.
Low-cost practices that SMEs use include:
- Open conversations about what would help staff balance work and care
- Time off or working from home when a child is sick
- Holding meetings within core hours (e.g. 10am–4pm)
- Flexitime (e.g. finishing early to do the school run and catching up in the evening)
- Allowing staff to bring a child to work or work from home in emergencies, occasionally or regularly
- Remote/hybrid work (accepting that children may sometimes be around if meetings are online or outside of core hours)
Support may look different in different workplaces and job roles:
- Be clear about what flexibility is possible in different roles
- Aim for fair, workable solutions for individuals and teams
Remember to:
- Recognise that childcare needs change over time
- Revisit arrangements as children grow and routines change
“If my child is sick and I need time off, that will be paid… it will be treated exactly the same as personal sick leave.” (Linda – Employee, 50-249 staff)
What can employees do to help?
- Keep their employer updated if their childcare situation changes
- Be open about what kind of flexibility would help (see Flexible Working)
- Suggest practical solutions that work for their role and team
