As more parents enter the workforce, the need to educate and care for our next generation of employees during their critical first 2,000 days is more important than ever, according to a May 7 Slate article. Yet half of U.S. workers lack access to quality child care options; waiting lists across the country are long; and North Carolinians moms and dads spend an average of one third of their incomes on child care.
The good news: more employers are providing their employees with child care options, and they’re noticing big benefits to their bottom line. Investing in quality early childhood instruction provides a $16 return for every $1 spent, according to a national report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Furthermore, businesses who provide child care options for employees can recoup some of the $4.4 billion they lose each year when employees miss work because of child care issues.