Employers warned staff could leave for childcare perks

Irish employers are being warned they risk losing staff if they don't provide on-the-job childcare facilities.

A new survey shows that 96% of employees don't have access to childcare at work and three-quarters fear taking parental leave could hinder their chances of promotion.

Aoife Curtin of Recruit Ireland, which carried out the study, says a majority of working parents would leave their job and take a pay-cut to work for a more child-friendly employer.

“Seven out of ten people who answered the survey said that they would leave their current employer if they were offered a similar job by an employer with childcare facilities,” said Miss Curtin.

“Indeed, some of these people were willing to take a pay-cut for this, over 60% said they would take a 10% pay-cut."