In recognition of companies who really do go the extra mile for working families, we profile five of the best in this series. Today, we look at car manufacturing giant Ford.
Sector: Engineering/manufacturing
Number of employees: 11,200
Nominated for: Childcare, fathers
Childcare
What it does: As well as vouchers and a confidential childcare helpline, Ford offers an onsite nursery at its engineering centre in Dunton, Essex, which currently looks after 85 children.
The nursery is maintained by Ford and run by a local provider. Fees are 10% lower than market rates.
Why it does it: "Being able to drive to work and drop your kids off on-site really reduces stress and anxiety for parents.
These measures have had positive impacts on employee engagement: satisfaction levels among parents of pre-school-aged children are consistently higher," says Mitra Janes, diversity and inclusion manager at Ford.
Fathers
What it does: Ford's onsite nursery is a particularly good opportunity for dads, and Ford has noted a 50/50 split in drop-offs and collections between mothers and fathers.
Stay and play' sessions and Father's Day activities further encourage the engagement of dads. The company also provides in-house support for new fathers and those whose partners are expecting. Reading support programmes encourage dads to improve their own skills while helping their child, and employees also volunteer in local primary schools, providing positive male role models for children.
Why it does it: "Men make up the majority of our workforce, over 90%. It's valuable for children to spend time with positive male role models, and working within the community helps our employees go above and beyond," says Janes.
