Childcare

The child care industry is facing an employment crisis. Thousands of workers left the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, providers are still struggling to find and keep employees.

"The regulations are going to be key to meet family needs and child safety, along with quality," said S.C. House Education Committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson.

Providing employees with space or subsidies for childcare programs solves a few key problems working parents often face. But as the idea catches on in South Carolina, what else should employers be thinking about?

The federal government allotted South Carolina $954.6 million in pandemic emergency money to buoy the childcare industry. Some of that is still available, but more is not likely to come along.

It would require outside of the box thinking, that's how Dixie Benca describes the decision to add childcare at her Anderson restaurant. The decision to add a babysitter to the staff of McGee's Irish Pub & Restaurant comes as restaurants are looking at new ways to retain and attract employees but also as Benca and her husband and business partner, John, have seen a need for childcare among staff. The need grew with COVID-19 requiring schools and daycares to close and requiring parents to juggle their duties at work and at home.