Case Study: Child Care Benefits – Abbott

Overview

Abbott’s purpose is to help people live more fully through its breakthrough products. Achieving this purpose
starts with Abbott’s people, which is why the company is committed to investing in its colleagues, helping
them live their best lives personally and professionally. Abbott does this by offering a variety of benefits and
development opportunities that allow employees to build thriving workplace relationships and careers, along
with financial security for themselves and their families.

Abbott conducted a work, life and community needs assessment survey of its headquarters-based employees in Spring 1999 and found that around one-third had children under the age of 15. These employees reported that the stress of managing child care impacted their work responsibilities, highlighting two primary areas of concern: the lack of consistent, affordable child care options and the lack of interim child care solutions for school-aged children. After further research, Abbott leadership found there was a gap in child care in the area, with only 17 spaces available for every 100 children ages 0 to 5 and only 29% of
facilities providing care for infants.

Based on these data, Abbott determined a multipoint strategy was needed to address the different concerns
employees raised. As part of Abbott’s larger program to address employees’ needs at work and outside the
office, the Abbott Childcare Solutions Program was born.

Best Practices

1. Use employee surveys to conduct an initial needs assessment and measure employee satisfaction after child care benefits have been rolled out.
2. Highlight that child care benefits are a service that would attract and retain quality employees as well as boost employee loyalty in an increasingly competitive marketplace to get buy-in from leadership.
3. If you decide to set up an on-site child care center, ensure the location is in a desirable, convenient
   environment with enhanced safety measures. Work with a managing partner that provides a positive work
   environment with robust, competitive salary and benefits programs for the on-site child care facility.

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