Working Wednesday: Teen Births Way Down

Teen birth records have been kept since 1940. The rate of teen births in the country in 2010 equaled that of 1940. It is about 34 per 1000 girls from age 15 to 19 years of age. Rates have been going down for several years, but 2010 went down significantly. Each state's rate is listed in a news article with the highest in Mississippi at 55, my state Ohio at about 34, and New Hampshire the lowest at almost 16. Several factors brought the numbers down, according to experts, such as the economy and more use of contraception. See: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765567418/US-teen-births-Miss-has-highest-rate-NH-lowest.html?pg=1

What does this have to do with small business? One word: childcare. Childcare ranks as either #1 or 2 for absenteeism with most companies. It trades off with transportation problems. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard owners or their human resources manager tell me about these two issues being major problems each day.

Companies must have a full staff in order to be profitable. I believe some small businesses made the decision to use staffing agencies as their h.r. simply because they did not want the headache of absenteeism. They could contract this piece out, observe potential employees, and if their work and attendance were acceptable, hire them full time.

Since I have been on both sides of workforce development, I have counseled job seekers on the importance of attendance and barriers/solutions to perfect attendance. Childcare can be one of the those barriers. Likewise, I have worked with businesses, and since this is a blog for companies, let's look at positive actions you can take to get that attendance and profit you are in business after all to get.

1. Location, location, location. When you are ready to expand, don't forget looking at sites close to childcare centers. Drop off/pick up timing is very important. It also gives the opportunity for your workers to use their lunch hours to visit their children.

2. Childcare centers have little profit margin. They depend upon regular payments just like any other business. Help them by allowing a pay deduction to go from a worker's paycheck directly to the center. Or a worker pays you, and that payment then goes to the center. The center may offer a discount to your workers if they know they can count on payment each month.

3. Some companies offer daycare on site. This is the best case scenario. Some offer sick child care on site. But businesses shy away from these in general because of perceived liabilities. A compromise may be to have a childcare center lease land/outbuilding from you. Through a contract, you can state who has sole liability. If this has been successful for others, this can be successful for you too.

4. Before/After school care. This may be another compromise. Perhaps you don't want to get involved with the little ones, but would be willing to consider older children. Still you are providing a service for your employees and get regular attendance to suit your needs.

5. Can you offer flexible scheduling? For those that have children to drop off for care or school, allow them a later time in the morning to report to work and/or the same thing at the close of day. Arrange it so they still have to work the total amount of hours per week. It just depends who you want to work for you. These are the types of benefits that attract the best and the brightest.