Conference moira::parenting

    If you get an "A" on the paper could you please pass it on to Digital
    so we can convince them to provide such a service?
    
    Wouldn't that be nice?!
    
    

    I don't that there has been an extensive discussion in here.  I do know
    that a few local companies offer it (there have been news magazine
    shows on this); one is Stride-Rite (but, of course).  Maybe you need to
    contact them.  I believe WANG also did this in their prime.
    
    -s
    

    I also believe the IRS building in Tewskbury (near TWO on Rt 133) does,
    or used to provide daycare for children of employees.
    
    julie

About 2.5 years ago Digital and a number of other large companies donated
money to help open up a daycare to meet the needs of their employees.

The consortium ended up selecting the YMCA to run the daycare.  The rates
charged were in the mid-upper range compared to local daycare options.  Part
of the charge was to have better benefits and salaries to enourage less 
turnover.  Since the center is run by the YMCA I don't know if the compensation
was any different than other centers in the area.

My daughter went to this daycare as an infant (she was the first infant when
then center opened).  The only advantages they offered over other local 
daycares (at the time) was very flexible scheduling (with regard to part-time
or employees traveling from other locations with their children) and preference
on a waiting list.  I found the other aspects of the center similar to what
other local daycares offered.

I mention this here since I do believe it was an attempt to support working
parents and the childcare issue.  I have sent you a brief description via 
e-mail for your paper.  Out here - The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
is known to have on-site high quality childcare available.  I just know by
rumour.

BTW - when I say "here" I mean Seattle area...Iris

    Wasn't there some thing on the news yesterday about the top 10 places
    to work if you were a working mother?
    
    AT&T was first I believe and Xerox was 10th.  In any case, I thought
    they had daycare available and one of their things that made them so
    great.  
    
    Any news station would be able to provide you with the information
    about it I would think.
    
    cj

Lotus in Cambridge has on-site day care, I think.

    I am reading these notes quite for some time. My name is Karin Kaegi
    and I am working for Digital in Switzerland.
    
    I have a daughter of 4 1/2 years which is half day attending the 
    kindergarden and the good news also a Digital Daycare Center.
    This is thanks to our DECweb group (Digital women environement board),
    a group of women and one man which have taken the this task to make
    the management see the need and also the advantage to have a daycare.
    
    We have been able to give figures and also showing the need of it,
    that in the end we could participate with an already existing daycare
    center of another firm. Digital pays now each year a certain amount
    and we parents have to pay a dayly fee which is very little compared
    to offical daycare centers.
    
    We here are ever so glad. Also Digital profited as well since we
    even came in the papers as a good example.
    
    If somebody would like more information about our approach, just
    drop a mail. I will get in touch with the project manager.
    
    Karin

    
    I also saw the news yesterday about the daycare.  They were talking
    about an article out of "Working Woman or Working Mother" Magazine.
    
    They also talked about a Company (same article) that has a Kindergarden
    on the premises.
    
    Dianne

    This is probably the most-reported topic in Working Mother magazine. 
    If you look in past issues, you'll see report after report of corporate
    involvement in daycare and the people who are involved in setting it
    up, providing examples, etc.
    

    If you want to write a serious paper, I'd suggest you contact HR or
    community relations at both Stride Rite and Lotus. Stride Rite was the
    first to do this...we're talking more than a decade ago.
    
    Also, you may want to contact fols who license day care in
    Massachusetts...the Office for Children...they license the corporate
    based sites as well and may be able to tell you who has 'em, where to
    go for info, etc.
    
    Stratus and Rockport both have relationships with Cottage Day Care 
    in Marlboro. those companies or the center may be able to give you some
    information.
    
    Also, I'd expect the library at a place like Leslie College..or
    anywhere there is a substantial preschool education focus.. to be able 
    to help. 
    
    Good luck...a long overdo area of company responsibility...I can be
    close to my money at work but not close to my daughter...I can get
    Dunkin Donuts but not day care...I can buy T shirts but day care is
    not appropriate ! 
    Please share the paper. 

The Digital facility in Reading, England, had a creche, or daycare.  
There's been a lot of changes in Digital Europe now, so I don't know
the status anymore.

In Colorado Springs several years ago, several parents and non-parents
tried to get a daycare at or associated with Digital and the company refused.

    Carol

    My husband works for Commerce Insurance in Webster, MA and they have
    onsite daycare.  The quality of daycare at Commerce is outstanding.  My
    daughter been in the program since she was 5 months old.....she's 3
    now.  I used to teach/work at at daycare so my criteria for them in the
    education and love/affection for each child was high.............they
    have a wonderful educational & nuturing environment.  My daughter just
    advanced 2 weeks ago to the "Playful Movers" and she is now little Miss
    Independent.
    
    The cost is comparable to any other daycare, but the quality is far
    superior because 1) it's corporate, 2) it's an insurance company,
    3) the company is able to put some money in the kiddie since they are
    doing well financially.
    
    My husband goes to see our daughter during 2 breaks and a 45 minute
    lunch each day.  The other kids in the class think my husband is part
    of the room.  When Natasha transitioned to her new room my husband had
    a harder time because for 2 years he's been with these kids and
    teachers.
    
    It's life funny!

    My husband works at Lotus and they do have a very good onsite daycare
    facility. We do not have children ourselves, so I can't comment
    on it from a parent's perspective, but we know several people who
    have children in the center and are very pleased. It might be
    worthwhile to contact Lotus in Cambridge.

When I got my passport last year in Boston, I noticed that the Fed bldg next to
Boston Garden (not the JFK) had a daycare center (accessed via a heavy, unmarked
steel door; I just happened to walk by as someone had it open). Maybe this is a
benefit of Fed employment? 

I realize companies see the liability and run screaming, as well as shying away
from the facility costs, but I wonder if they really know how much people's
schedules are dictated by daycare. And while the job and career are important,
both to me personally and to the well-being of my family, does anyone really
think I will put the care of my children at risk in favor of work demands?