Edenred Calls On Firms To Help Make Sure All Parents Benefit From Childcare Vouchers

Released on: March 09, 2012, 10:21 am
Author: Edenred
Industry: Management

Edenred, the world's leading name in employee benefits, incentives and rewards, has urged businesses to help ensure employees with older children don't miss out on the benefits of childcare vouchers.

Many companies have a habit of promoting their family-friendly policies towards young families or mothers going on maternity leave, and as a result, many parents mistakenly assume that childcare vouchers are only for young children.

In actual fact, they can be used to pay for the care of children until the first September after their fifteenth birthday. For children registered as disabled, childcare vouchers can be used until the first September following their sixteenth birthday.

Laura Czapiewski, Edenred Childcare Voucher Product Manager, said: "It isn’t just working parents with young children that need support. Working parents with older children need support too.

"The needs of working parents do not end when children start school, and many parents agree that the pre-teen and teenage years can be the most challenging - emotionally and financially. However, many parents of older children are unaware of what they are entitled to."

Childcare vouchers can be used to pay for a range of things, from nursery care through to holiday and community play schemes. Edenred offers discounts at a range of day and residential holiday clubs, allowing parents to make significant savings.

According to Ms Czapiewski, the key to ensuring parents of older children are able to take advantage of the benefits on offer is good communication.

She said: "When launching a family friendly benefit, it is tempting for businesses to use images of babies and toddlers in the promotion. However, good providers should supply an array of materials designed to attract the interest of parents of older children, using images and messages relating to preteens and teenagers.

"Two way communication is also very important. Surveying employees to find out the ages of their children can be useful because this allows businesses to properly tailor the benefits on offer to each employee. Once businesses have promoted a specific benefit to their employees, it is imperative that HR departments and line managers are fully aware of the scope of availability of these benefits so they can advise employees how and where they can be accessed."

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About Edenred:
Edenred, is the world leader in prepaid corporate services, designing and delivering solutions that make employees’ lives easier and improving the efficiency of organisations. Edenred offers a wide range of benefits services such as employee discounts and total rewards. By ensuring that allocated funds are used specifically as intended, these solutions enable companies to more effectively manage their:

- Employee Benefits
Luncheon Vouchers®, Childcare Vouchers®, Cycle2Work, Flexible Benefits, Employee Savings, Total Reward Statements, MyWorkOffers®

- Expense Management
Premium Card, Eyecare Vouchers®, Clean Way® Vouchers

- Incentives, Rewards & Motivation
Compliments Select, Compliments® Card, Compliments® Experiences, Incentive Award Card, Capital Bonds®, Single Store Vouchers, Travel Clubs, Webcentiv®

- Communications Services

A comprehensive range of solutions to help organisations engage and motivate their staff

The Group also supports public institutions in managing their social programs.

Listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange, Edenred operates in 38 countries, with some 6,000 employees, nearly 580,000 companies and public sector customers, 1.3 million affiliated merchants and 36.2 million beneficiaries. In 2011, total issue volume amounted to €15.2 billion, of which 58% was generated in emerging markets.

All tradenames of Edenred products and services are registered trademarks of Edenred SA.

For further press information, including images and interview opportunities, contact:
Emma Ward and Chris Lewis
Edenred UK Press Office
Clareville
Tel: 020 7736 4022
Email: emmaward@clareville.co.uk; chrislewis@clareville.co.uk