Jobs That Offer Childcare

By Chris Kolmar - May. 10, 2021

Find a Job You Really Want In

The COVID-19 pandemic hit many Americans hard, but that toll was especially tough on women — mainly working mothers.

The National Women’s Law Center shared a devastating report that showed women had lost almost one million more jobs than men did during the pandemic.

While part of the equation comes down to the types of jobs women are more likely to hold, such as the hard-hit hospitality industry, a significant factor in the skewed unemployment numbers is a lack of childcare options. When schools shut down, many moms found themselves forced to leave work and take over homeschooling duties.

As the economy and workforce recover, childcare is becoming a more relevant conversation among business owners and stakeholders. It’s a perk that job seekers are scoping out and demanding, and if working moms are going to be returning to the workforce, childcare options and assistance will have to be a priority.

What Childcare Services Do Companies Offer?

The cost of childcare is already high and trending upward. In some cases, the weekly cost for childcare is more than what a single parent earns in a week, even if they’re working full-time hours. Daycare is more expensive than college in many places.

This has led to some parents choosing to become stay-at-home moms and dads. Some women opt not to have kids and focus solely on their careers instead as the costs and demands on mothers continue to soar without workplaces taking steps to ease the burden.

Some states are doing better than others when it comes to helping working families. Others, not so much. But the top cities for working families all had several factors in common: affordable daycare and affordable housing that allows parents to provide for their families, set aside college funds, and save for retirement without spiraling into debt.

As childcare becomes a more significant factor in our evolving work society, job-seeking parents are more and more frequently looking for:

  • Fully paid maternal and paternal leave for childbirth, adoption, surrogacy, and foster care

  • Free or inexpensive onsite daycare

  • Childcare reimbursements

  • Nanny assistance

  • Backup childcare centers

  • Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits

  • Special needs support and educational advising

  • Unlimited sick days to care for an ill dependent

We’ve compiled a list of general industries and specific companies that offer these types of benefits to their employees. Moms and dads can breathe a little easier knowing that there are options out there, and those options are growing as employers continue to see the benefits of aiding working families.

Jobs That Offer Childcare Services / Assistance

If you’re scoping the job market searching for childcare perks, there are a handful of jobs that usually have additional childcare options you probably won’t find in many industries.

  1. Daycare teacher or assistant. This role is an excellent option if you love kids and want to work with them, especially if you’re a former teaching assistant. Most employees have to be CPR certified and may be required to complete specific childcare classes.

    Many daycares offer free tuition for employee kids, but be prepared to be assigned to a different class to discourage favoritism.

  2. Nannies are responsible for providing personalized childcare in the employer’s home. This might require other household duties as well, such as cleaning or taking care of pets. While this option depends entirely on your employer, you may be allowed to bring your children with you while you work, so you don’t have to provide childcare.

  3. Fitness center trainers or administrators can often take advantage of free or heavily discounted childcare by leaving their kids in a supervised play area during the work shift.

    However, these facilities are usually free play without structured educational lessons, so it’s not a substitute for preschool or daycare. This option would be better suited for part-time workers.

  4. Some government jobs have childcare benefits in their plethora of employee perks. Specific headquarters may offer on-site childcare. If not, many government positions still offer generous childcare benefits to assist working parents.

  5. Education system. Many colleges and even high schools offer childcare classes that allow students to work with real children.

    Faculty may be eligible to enroll their children in these classes while they’re at work, and they can feel peace of mind knowing that their kids are under the care of students whose performance and experienced professionals are grading attentiveness.

  6. Summer camp or other educational camp. These organizations often include a reduced rate to sign your child up for the camp. While this is usually a short-term opportunity, it may be a beneficial option, especially if you’re hunting for a new job but haven’t been able to find childcare while you’re busy with interviews.

  7. Freelancing and remote work have become more common in the workforce since the coronavirus first started to impact businesses. For some working parents, this is an opportunity to earn money while being a stay-at-home caregiver.

    If you’re having difficulty finding a job that suits your childcare needs, you might consider this type of work either as a temporary or long-term commitment.

Companies That Offer Childcare

In no particular ranked order, here are some family-friendly companies that offer childcare perks and benefits:

  1. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

    An accounting practice that offers professional services, including audit and assurance, tax, and consulting.

    • Eight weeks paid parental leave

    • Emergency backup childcare reimbursement

    • Nursing moms’ program

    • Dependent care flexible spending account

    • Backup childcare centers

    • Unlimited sick days to care for an ill dependent

    • Disability caregivers network

    • Nanny assistance

  2. United Services Automobile Association (USAA)

    A financial group of companies that serve the US active military, veterans, and military families with insurance, investing, and banking.

    • On-site childcare center

    • Childcare cost reimbursement for work travel or working late

    • 85 fully paid business days for maternity leave after childbirth

    • 60 fully paid business days for paternity leave after childbirth

    • 60 days of parental leave after child adoption

  3. Edward Jones

    A Fortune 500 company that provides financial services to individual investors rather than institutions.

    • Childcare discount for eligible childcare centers

    • Daycare flexible spending account

    • Paid parental leave for childbirth, adoption, surrogacy, and foster care

  4. Alston amp; Bird

    A law firm that handles local, national, and global industries in various matters, including corporate and finance, intellectual property, international, litigation, regulatory and specialty, and taxes.

    • Parental leave (primary and non-primary caregiver)

    • Near-site childcare center in Atlanta

    • Backup childcare

    • Flexible time off policy

    • Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits

    • Special needs support and educational advising

    • Family-friendly special events

  5. Bright Horizons

    A nonprofit organization that provides employer-sponsored childcare and elder care services in addition to creating safe and enriching spaces in homeless shelters and other agencies for early education.

    • Adoption assistance

    • Childcare discount

    • Backup dependent care for children and adults

    • Free access to Sittercity to help with weekend/evening childcare, house sitters, tutors, pet sitters, and other services

  6. Deloitte

    A brand that allows thousands of dedicated global professionals in independent firms to collaborate and provide risk management, tax, audit and assurance, consulting, financial advice, and related services to clients.

    • Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement up to $50,000 for eligible expenses

    • Up to sixteen weeks paid time off for family leave, including childbirth and adoption, as well as caring for a dependent with health issues

    • Maximum of 30 days of backup childcare per year

    • Sabbaticals

    • Pet insurance for the fur babies

  7. Patagonia

    An American company that sells and markets outdoor clothing.

    • Paid parental leave

    • Access to on-site childcare at Ventura headquarters and Reno distribution center

  8. SAS Institute

    A leading tech company in analytics, IoT solutions, cloud computing, and data management.

    • On-site childcare

    • Subsidies available for parents who use outside childcare facilities

    • Paid parental leave

    • Adoption assistance

  9. Goldman Sachs

    A global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm that offers a wide range of financial and consulting services.

    • On-site childcare centers

    • Mother amp; baby rooms

    • Homework rooms

    • Stipends for adoption, surrogacy, egg donation, and egg retrieval

    • Advice amp; counseling services for current and soon-to-be parents

  10. Intuit

    A multinational financial software company for small businesses, accountants, and individuals. The company develops and sells tax preparation software as well as additional financial and accounting services.

    • Backup childcare

    • Dependent care FSA with tax-free dollars

    • Up to four weeks of family support time to make arrangements and provide care to a family member or dependent with a chronic condition

    • Resources and discounts for long-term or ongoing dependent care needs, including nannies, sitters, housekeepers, homework help, etc.

  11. Intel

    Intel Corporation manufactures semiconductor computer circuits and holds the x86 processor architecture patent. The company’s name comes from “integrated electronics.”

    • Access to childcare facilities, resources, financial assistance, etc.

    • Youth programs dedicated to tutoring, college coaching, and scholarship opportunities

    • Pregnancy, childbirth, and adoption benefits

    • Special parking for pregnant women

    • Nursing rooms

  12. Clif Bar

    A company that prides itself on creating organic and nutritious energy foods and drinks.

    • Adoption and infertility assistance

    • Paid parental leave

    • On-site childcare

    • Family-friendly workplace practices

    • Up to 10 post-secondary school scholarships per year for employee children

    • Tuition assistance program

    • Multi-week sabbatical earned after every seven years of service

  13. Google

    This Silicon Valley giant is a multinational tech company specializing in Internet browser-related searches, products, and advertising with many different sub-facets, including software, hardware, cloud computing, et cetera.

    • 18 weeks of paid maternal leave

    • Six weeks of paid paternal leave

    • Free on-site childcare

    • “Baby bonding bucks” bonus to help cover basic expenses such as diapers, formula, and other necessities when parents are on leave

  14. General Mills

    This company is a major producer of packaged consumer foods, including breakfast cereals, snacks, flour, prepared mixes, and similar products.

    • On-site childcare

    • Backup daycare options

    • Childcare consultations with employees

    • Flexible work schedule to accommodate dependent needs

    • Up to 20 weeks of paid maternal leave

    • Up to 12 weeks of paternal and adoptive parent leave

    • Caregiver leave benefits

  15. Aflac

    A Fortune 500 insurance company that provides financial protection to over 50 million people worldwide.

    • On-site childcare facilities

    • Paid parental leave

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Related posts

Topics: Guides, Life At Work