It Still Takes a Village, But Is Anyone Listening?
But it still was sad to read a Boston Globe story about a company that is about to axe a day care center for employees.
I don't agree with the Globe writer's premise that the reason companies are pulling back on such benefits is because the baby boomer employees are no longer pushing for them (they're now concerned with aging parents and other issues). Younger parents, if anything, expect employers to be more accommodating of their work-family needs than baby boomers.
The reason why companies are pulling back on this benefit is the same reason they're pulling back on all benefits. To squeeze out more profits in an increasingly competitive, globalized economy.
Day care centers are hugely expensive to operate. And, they may be of dubious recruiting value, especially in an era when employers are slashing medical benefits and only offer minimal maternity leave. Still it does seem sad that these days, even progressive companies are not bothering to try to answer the child care dilemma for employees.
Hillary Clinton--supposedly still mulling a run for President (does anyone doubt she is going to do this?)---is starting to make the press circuit, arguing her book, It Takes A Village, is more relevant than ever. It will be interesting to see if she would make work-family issues--and government support---a centerpiece of her campaign and the public policy debate.
Stumble It!
posted by pam at 9:20 AM
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