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As a part of the WISHRM State Conference SMILE Team, I have the opportunity to connect with speakers and exhibitors and learn more about what to expect at the upcoming conference.
Today, I spoke with two of the WISHRM23 Speakers, Audra Wieser and Michelle Sampson, about their "Child Care - A Critical Place of the Workforce Recruitment and Retention Puzzle," session on Friday, October 13th, at 10:00 AM CST.
Q & A with Michelle & Audra:
1. Who should attend your session?
Child care is known as the workforce behind the workforce. So if your business has employees, this session is for you! Even if child care challenges do not seem prevalent in your workforce, child care is an economic necessity that is critical for attracting young talent to your community.
2. What is something you hope all attendees will learn in this session?
You don’t have to open an on-site child care center to support your employees’ child care needs! We hope that individuals will begin to think differently about employer supported child care options and understand that it is not an all or nothing approach.
3. Is there anything you want attendees to know about you?
The Parenting Place is one of nine Child Care Resource and Referral agencies seamlessly operating throughout the state of Wisconsin. Serving parents, child care providers and businesses, we hear about the impact of child care on workforce challenges every day and are working hard as a system to find solutions.
Audra – Working as the Early Care and Education Director at The Parenting Place for the past 17 years has allowed me to combine two diverse skillsets…early care and education and economic development. I have a business degree in economics, ran a family child care center for six years and owned a real estate investment company, but my greatest sense of accomplishment has come from seeing my three children grow to be the successful and compassionate adults they are today!
Michelle – I have been with The Parenting Place for 4 years and have worked in the field of early care and education for over 10 years. I have experience working in a group child care setting and supporting child care providers through the YoungStar program and more recently as the Child Care Development Coordinator.
4. What makes you passionate about this topic, and why should others be passionate about it?
Audra – As a parent and former business owner myself who has struggled to find child care, I deeply understand the challenges of all stakeholders in the child care crisis. I was the parent who chose to leave a promising career to be home with my children. After facing this tough decision, I am passionate about finding collaborative, mutually beneficial solutions to this complex issue!
Michelle – I am passionate about this topic, because I have been the parent that had to delay starting a new position because we could not find child care for our 2 children. When we moved I was shocked to learn about the exponentially long waitlists, especially for children under 2 years of age. In my role I hear of too many families that are having to make the difficult decision to leave their careers and stay home because they are unable to find quality child care.
5. In an article posted by SHRM on October 4, 2023, titled "Pandemic-Era Child Care Funding Has Run Out. It’s Likely to Have a Big Impact on the Workplace," they talk about what employers can do to help, such as dependent care FSAs, flexible schedules, onsite childcare, and more. What have you seen Wisconsin employers doing to help with the childcare shortage?
We have some amazing employers in Wisconsin who are actively exploring innovative ways to both support their employee’s child care needs and help the sustainability of the child care industry. One of these ways is to partner with existing child care programs within their communities. The unique aspect of employer/child care partnerships is that it allows the employer and the child care programs to build a relationship that benefits both parties.
6. What are you most looking forward to at WISHRM23?
We are most looking forward to sharing and connecting with individuals who are interested in being a part of the solution. Child care is a complex issue that requires engagement from the greater community to find the multi-faceted, individualized solutions necessary.
7. Are there any additional things you wish for Wisconsin HR professionals and people leaders to know?
When beginning to tackle child care challenges in your workplace it can often feel overwhelming and possibly even out-of-reach, but it doesn’t have to. Begin by connecting with your local experts… your local child care resource and referral agency. They can help you understand and navigate child care in your community and connect you with local resources!
Meet Audra & Michelle:
In her work at an agency that supports parents and childcare providers, Audra Wieser sees first-hand the impacts of childcare on employee recruitment and retention. She brings the perspective of a current hiring manager, previous experience as a parent, and a degree and background in Economic Development to her role. She has over ten years of experience working with businesses to support the childcare needs of their employees and has been a statewide leader in advancing the understanding of childcare as a community asset and employee benefit.
As the Childcare Development Coordinator for the City of La Crosse, Michelle works to increase available childcare by building awareness in businesses and community members of the economic necessity of childcare. She brings years of experience as a parent and childcare leader to this role.
Website: www.theparentingplace.net
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