Childcare is infrastructure—and business needs to say so

Pregnant Then Screwed shared some astonishing data this week that made the front page of papers and got a lot of TV coverage.

Their recent survey of 20,000 pregnant women and mums—the biggest survey of its kind during the pandemic—showed that we are on the brink of a disaster for workplace equality.

The standout statistic is that 15% of mothers have either been made redundant or expect to be soon, with just under half of them stating childcare as a key factor. 

Another is that 62% of key worker mothers had to work reduced hours at the peak of the pandemic due to lack of childcare. 

A very difficult conundrum for business leaders: 

• To what extent is it an employer’s responsibility to support the lack of childcare?

• Should those who have managed to work hard during lockdown be rewarded for their efforts?

• Should those who have battled 18-month-old twins for four months and not lived up to their talents be protected from redundancy?

• What is the moral duty of the employer in this? 

These questions also reinforce something we have all learned during COVID: childcare is infrastructure, and the government cannot keep tinkering around the edges of 15-30 hours of nursery, and school days that end at 3.15pm… then blaming business for the fact that too few women manage to also maintain their careers. 

My take—Business vs Government

Business needs to: 

• Use its voice to push back on government when it is called to account for the pay gap and the lack of women in senior positions. 

• Say that it accepts responsibility and needs to change.

• Put pressure on the government to establish a coherent, but also affordable and workable programme of childcare. 

By way of example, our state, academy trust school has traditionally run an 8.30am-4pm day, with extended day activities until 5pm. This is a huge bonus for working parents. But it has a catch: longer holidays due to funding. We are currently into week four out of almost ten weeks, with precious few clubs and activities on offer. 

6 to go!

Christine x