Abbott’s On-site Childcare Program

Challenges

Access, Worker Issues

Location

Illinois

Stakeholders

Businesses

Beneficiaries

Parents, Children

Overview

Healthcare innovator Abbott Laboratories offers a holistic childcare benefits program, centered on a world-class on-site child development center at its Lake County, Illinois headquarters.

Key Impact Metrics

90%
utilization of the center
96%
satisfaction rating over the past five years
Top 8%
of NAEYC accreditation nationally

Problem

Abbott’s employee survey in 1999 revealed that a third of employees in its headquarters had young children and struggled with inconsistent, expensive childcare. Local daycare supply was scarce, with only 17 spots per 100 infants. Employees reported that childcare stress was hurting their work performance. Abbott faced potential productivity loss, absenteeism, and turnover as working parents juggled inadequate care options.

Solution

Abbott created a multifaceted childcare solution program to meet different needs. The company built a $10 million on-site childcare center, ‘Early Discoveries’, for children aged six weeks to five years. It also offered backup care for school-age kids during holidays. Abbott outsourced center management to Bright Horizons. Beyond its on-site care, Abbott provides a 10% discount for all nationwide childcare centers and free premium access to a family care platform.

Results

Beneficiary ImpactUp to 510 children served
Employee Impact96% satisfaction rating
Financial Results$10M invested

Replication Tips

Partner with experts: Abbott outsourced management to Bright Horizons for operational know-how. Companies can similarly partner with experienced childcare operators to ensure quality and compliance.
Comprehensive benefits: Offer a suite of supports beyond just on-site daycare. Abbott layered on paid parental leave, nationwide childcare discounts, and even tutoring services to address multiple family needs—a strategy that broadens impact.
Maintain quality: Pursue accreditation and hire qualified staff (Abbott works closely with Bright Horizons on quality). High standards—e.g., low child-teacher ratios, trained caregivers boost parents' trust and program reputation.