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Responding to the Childcare Needs of Shift Workers: Examples from the Automotive Industry
Abstract: Building cars, trucks, SUVs, and automotive parts is not a nine-to-five job. Almost all automotive manufacturing plants run production on two or more shifts or crews per day, and it is not uncommon for auto workers to work second or third shifts, “swing” shifts (that rotate between day and night shifts), or to occasionally work overtime to meet production demands. If you’re an auto manufacturing worker and a parent, working these non-standard hours (defined as anything outside of regular Monday to Friday daytime hours) poses unique challenges in finding quality, available, and flexible childcare options. Automotive employers have long recognized the challenges their workers face in finding childcare that fits their work schedule. In fact, automakers were among the first U.S. employers to offer on-site childcare and family care benefits to address these challenges. This article, part of the Chicago Fed’s Spotlight on Childcare, reviews a range of current and past child and family care options offered by automakers and suppliers.
Keywords: Automobile; Childcare; Auto industry;
JEL Classification: J13; J22; J51; D22; L62;
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Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Publication Date: 2024-04