LANCASTER, N.Y. (WKBW) — Across the board, many businesses are working to change their culture. They're looking to attract employees and keep them. Now, many employers are adding an extra perk to make sure staffers come to work.
A moment of individuality is really motivating for toddlers at Imagination Station in Lancaster.
It's a brand new facility, built on the grounds of the GreenFields on Broadway, based on the needs of employees.
"When we were looking at [getting] staff to come here and want to stay and then feel like they're part of a family atmosphere, we saw daycare is high on their list," President and CEO Christopher Koenig said.
Having this daycare on campus, Koenig says is a benefit for recruitment and retention of staff.
It gives staffers a discount on childcare and cuts down on transit time.
"We found that anytime we can give time back to the families, it was going to be time well spent," Koenig said.
Sheri Scavone is the executive director at the Western New York Women's Foundation. She says, parents lose lose 9 or 10 days from work each year because of child care issues.
"That's assuming they have other accommodations for child care the remainder of the time. Then of course in Buffalo, we add snow days," Scavone said.
The idea of site-based child care is catching on. Scavone says the "Niagara Lutheran Health System is the third employer in the region, with regular child care. They also have a drop-in option.
"At the end of the day, we have to take care of these patients, Scavone said.
"The alternative if this facility is not here is call in," Koenig said. "If you're taking care of your children, and they're off from school or something happens, you've got to take care of them. This allows the staff to know children will be taken care of and they can come to work, so that way they're not missing out on a check."
Right now, 45 kids are enrolled. They have more than a dozen infant spots open and available. Imagination Station is giving Niagara Lutheran staffers a discount on daycare. This facility is also accepting families outside the health care system.
