The school holidays often pose a significant challenge for working parents, who either need to use their annual leave to take time off or pay out of pocket for expensive holiday programs. For women, taking regular chunks of time out of the office to care for children during the school holidays can impact future career opportunities and progression.
Many organizations are proactively seeking to address this challenge, seeing it as part of their broader commitment to gender equality in the workplace.
During the spring school holidays of 2024, Service Stream, supported by WORK180, partnered with KidsCo to provide on-site childcare for their employees. The results were overwhelmingly positive!
Below, Service Stream and KidsCo share more about the significant improvements in productivity, employee satisfaction, and progress toward gender equality goals following the pilot program.
The Challenge: Supporting primary carers without compromising careers
School holidays bring joy to children but often come with added stress for working parents.
Many struggle to manage childcare alongside their job duties, frequently taking leave. For women, who comprise 88% of primary carers in the workforce, this can present additional barriers to career advancement.
Service Stream has set an ambitious goal to achieve 25% women in leadership by 2025—a goal directly impacted by support systems for primary carers. Recognizing this challenge, they sought practical solutions that work for all.
The solution: A creative partnership with KidsCo
Facilitated by WORK180, Service Stream implemented a three-day on-site school holiday program in partnership with KidsCo.
The goal was simple: support primary carers in the workforce by giving them peace of mind during school holidays. However, the results went above and beyond, as employees noted a new sense of community and camaraderie.
James Smith, Senior Manager – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, shares:
“Before the program, there were concerns about the noise and interruption the program might bring to the office. The KidsCo teachers were incredible and ensured the kids still had fun without causing disruption to the office.”
Laynton Allan, CEO at KidsCO, adds that their mission has always been about finding proactive solutions for working parents and their employers, and it’s been highly rewarding to see that mission grow:
“When we started KidsCo, our mission was to create programs that genuinely ease the demands on working parents, connect families, and, in turn, strengthen workplaces. Seeing how our school holiday program is helping to close the gender pay gap and promote family-friendly workplaces is both inspiring and humbling. We’re honored to be part of a solution that not only supports family life but also strengthens organizational culture, promotes productivity, and fosters true diversity and inclusion.”
The Outcome: A positive shift in workplace dynamics
The pilot program’s success was clear, particularly in areas crucial to Service Stream’s goals of gender equality, retention, and productivity:
1. Advancing gender equality and career continuity.
- 78% of participating employees were primary carers, with 86% of them being female. For these women, the initiative presented a practical step towards narrowing the gender pay gap and achieving leadership targets.
- 72% of primary carers maintained regular work schedules without disruption, supporting career growth and Service Stream’s commitment to equity.
2. Increased productivity and reduced leave.
- On average, primary carers gained an additional 3.5 productive hours daily, helping them stay on top of their responsibilities.
- 81% avoided using personal or carer leave, a significant indicator of how much pressure the program relieved during the school holidays.
3. Enhanced retention and job satisfaction.
- With 100% of participants reporting improved workplace culture and inclusivity, the program solidified Service Stream’s reputation as a supportive employer.
- 88% of employees stated they were less likely to seek employment elsewhere because of this benefit, highlighting its role in long-term employee retention.
Alongside the above, James also notes how much the program brought the team together in unexpected ways:
“Although it wasn’t our main goal, we also saw this program galvanize our entire workforce. Seeing your colleagues with their kids really brought a different energy and level of connection to the office.”
What Service Stream employees had to say about the program
The impact of the program was felt deeply by parents who took part. Here’s what they shared about their experience:
“This program has been a game-changer for me. As a working mother, I often felt I had to choose between my career and my family. Now, I can focus on my work knowing my child is well cared for, and I feel truly supported by Service Stream in my professional growth.”
“It was a great opportunity to show my daughter my workplace. I would really appreciate having these kinds of programs in our workplace during every school holiday, enabling me to focus more on my work instead of worrying about who is looking after my kids!”
“It was wonderful to hear from other parents how great the program was and how it enabled them to come into the office when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to during school holidays.”
The road ahead: Service Stream’s continued commitment to gender equality
Given the program’s success, Service Stream wants to expand its reach. Future steps include:
- Using insights from this initiative to develop more targeted support for female employees.
- Continuing to measure and improve gender equality metrics, including women in leadership positions and the gender pay gap.
- Considering the potential expansion of the program to include more school holiday periods. While this remains on the horizon, they continue to evolve and evaluate opportunities in this area to ensure future growth aligns with their objectives.
Service Stream’s partnership with KidsCo is more than just an employee benefit—it’s a commitment to creating a workplace that values its people and actively seeks to bridge gender gaps. Laynton sums it up well:
“This case study with Service Stream is one of the many that reinforces one of my favored adages: ‘Small & thoughtful changes can drive big shifts in organizational culture and opportunity.’”
By addressing the needs of primary carers, Service Stream is empowering their workforce, fostering a culture of inclusivity, and setting a new standard in corporate responsibility.
