Employees quitting jobs over cost of childcare

Kelly

8 years ago

High childcare costs are causing employees to quit their job

Today, many employers are finding that employees are quitting their jobs due to high nursery fees. According to a recent survey, 1,600 business found that employees leave their jobs because a high percentage of their wage is being spent on the cost of childcare.

With the rise in childcare costs, this is having an impact on employers. Many are facing the difficulties of being are to recruit a full team and then hope that employees remain in the workforce for a long period.

Depending on the location of childcare providers this will depend on thier fees, in some areas especially London these can be higher than other areas of the country. Parents can on average be spending up to £900 per month on childcare, and for families that have more than one child, their bill is double this.

For many parents returning to work, it can be a stressful time working out income and the cost of putting their child into nursery, etc. After careful consideration, some decide it is not financially beneficial to return to work even after looking into support available such as working tax credits.

With many nurseries facing financial strain due to funding cuts, changing in funding ect, they have been left with no choice but to raise nursery fees. Without a rise in fees, it could be potential mean they have to close, leaving parents with the dilemma of finding childcare elsewhere.

At present to help parents return to work 3 and four years olds receive 15hrs free childcare a week and come next September this will rise to 3ohrs for families who are working. The increase hours will help support working families with the cost of childcare. However, there is still the argument of what support there is for children from 0 to 2.

Do you think there should be support for children from 0 to 2?