Challenges

Access, Worker Issues

Location

Michigan

Stakeholders

Businesses

Beneficiaries

Parents, Children

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Overview

Financial services firm Jackson National Life (JNL) created an on-site childcare center at its Lansing, Michigan, campus, offering discounted childcare to employees.

Key Impact Metrics

  • 117
    childcare slots
  • 30%
    of childcare slots serve families from surrounding communities
  • 20+
    years of operation

Problem

JNL employees faced significant logistical challenges with childcare, often needing to leave work early to reach distant providers—ultimately impacting overall productivity. These issues posed barriers to recruiting and retaining talent, especially younger professionals starting families.

Solution

To solve this problem, JNL built a childcare facility at its headquarters in 2001. The center is operated by KinderCare and offers high-quality early education for infants through preschoolers. Tuition is discounted for employees, making it affordable relative to external options. The center’s hours align with the workday, and it is structured to accommodate roughly 90 to 100 children. JNL positioned the center as a cornerstone of a family-friendly company culture, emphasizing that it reduces stress for working parents and serves as a recruiting tool to attract talent who prioritize work-life support.

Results

  • Beneficiary Impact
    94 children enrolled on average
  • Employee Impact
    63% of childcare slots are used by JNL employees on average

Replication Tips

  • Integrate with company values: JNL framed onsite childcare as part of promoting work-life balance and being an “employer of choice.” Companies replicating this should similarly tie the initiative to their core values and long-term talent strategy.

Suggested Implementation Timeline

~12-15 months

Sources