Unilever Ghana launches Childcare Centre for employees

Recent studies have shown that a workplace day care can improve employee morale, lower absenteeism and increase turnover because fewer employees need to take time off to look after their children.

But many working parents may find it hard to imagine a daycare centre right in the same building as their job. It is almost an impossible dream for a parent to see their child during a workday. For Unilever Ghana employees, it is a dream come true.

The company has recently unveiled its newest addition to support its employee wellbeing and diversity program, a Day Care Centre (Crèche) at its premises in Tema. The Vice President, Unilever West Africa, Mr. Luc-Olivier Marquet, Managing Director Unilever Ghana, Ms. Maidie Arkutu and Human Resource Director Unilever West Africa, Mr. Stendert Krommendam jointly inaugurated the Centre.

The Centre provides a venue where children can participate in developmentally appropriate cognitive, physical, social, and emotional activities right at the workplace, while the parents can focus on their work at the same time and be confident that their children are in good hands. The centre has an array of facilities including a playroom, sleeping room, activities hall, kitchen and washroom.

According to the Mother of the crèche, Ms. Victoria Frimpong, a childcare specialist, the crèche opens from 7.a.m. to 7p.m, from Monday to Friday and for children from 2 months to 2 years. She assured parents that their children would be taken very good care of and it would be a home away from home.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Maidie Arkutu, Managing Director, Unilever Ghana said, “Offering our employees easy-to-access child care eliminates a major distraction for working parents – and as a result builds great workforce that is focused, productive and committed for a long haul”. She added “We see this as a great step towards making sure that we, as an organisation, we provide our employees with the services that matter most to them”.

Mr. Stendert Krommendam, Human Resource Director Unilever West Africa said, “Unilever is committed to helping its employees balance work and personal lives, to enhance the quality of both sides of the equation”. “It is also part of our ambition to provide equal opportunities for women and men at the workplace through offering a wide range of facilities such as a Day Care ”, he added.

An employee commented that she is very happy with the establishment of the crèche as she always had difficulty in finding someone to take care of her child because her child does not adjust to people easily, but with other children around and lots of toys to play with, her child will feel comfortable quickly.

Last year, Unilever Ghana was awarded the prestigious Number One Employer of Choice (FMCG) and Top Employers Ghana 2015 certification which looks after respectively being the preferred Employer Choice for students and achieving the highest standards in Human Resource in the areas of pay and benefits, training and development, career development, working conditions and company culture.