Start with data
It can feel hard to know where to start when you see the range of actions you can take to make your business prioritise early childhood. A good place to start is to initiate the conversation internally and look at the data.
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1. Find out what matters to your colleagues
If you’re not sure how where to start when it comes to prioritising early childhood then beginning by gathering some data:
- Review your demographics and your diversity statistics (e.g. gender pay gap reporting)
- Talk to your employees and listen to their understanding of early childhood
- Find out what matters most to your employees across the five game-changer areas
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2. Track your current activities
Audit the activity you already do which supports early childhood and reflect on where you can have a greater impact.
If you are already have policies and practices in place that make a positive impact for early childhood, review engagement levels and see what more you can do.
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3. Understand your churn data
The Business Taskforce has made the business case for supporting parents and carers and the report demonstrates that the fastest return of starting to prioritise early childhood is retaining and boosting great talent in your teams.
Currently up to a quarter of mothers are unwillingly having to leave their jobs. It’s vital you understand how this is impacting your business and your bottom line.
Case study: The Co-op Group
Co-op measures levels of colleague engagement and experience through a confidential annual survey called ‘Talkback.’ All colleagues are invited to complete it, in 2024 over 46,000 Co-op colleagues completed it, and nearly 9,000 of those are primary or joint carers for children under 18 years of age. Those colleagues have higher levels of engagement than average, showing Co-op’s a positive place to work for carers of young children.
The Talkback results are shared with all managers of teams where 5 or more colleagues respond, and the insight is used by business leaders to actively drive improvements to practices. Every leader is expected to engage their team, hold an action planning meeting and review the plans throughout the year. There’s also lots of other research and listening conducted with colleagues every year, to make sure colleagues are at the heart of decision making at Co-op.
Why this matters
By providing support and resources, alongside flexibility and choice, employers will not only be boosting the wellbeing and productivity of their colleagues, they will also be contributing to a society which is better positioned to take on the challenges of the future.
Support working parents and caregiversRelated actions
