Smugglers Notch’s Free On-Site Childcare for Employees

Challenges

Access, Worker Issues

Location

Vermont

Stakeholders

Businesses

Beneficiaries

Parents, Children

Overview

Smugglers Notch, a ski resort in Vermont, tackled staffing shortages by offering free on-site childcare to its employees beginning in 2022.

Key Impact Metrics

$0
in children costs for employees
70
childcare slots available
3
different age groups served

Problem

Harlene Johnson, director of Children’s programs at Smugglers Notch Resort, noted that childcare was one of the biggest barriers to employment at the resort. This was evident given the steep childcare cost in the area, with childcare fees likely consuming a significant portion of a Smuggler employee’s salary. As a result, many potential employees, especially mothers, either didn’t apply or quit when they had children.

Solution

Starting winter 2022, Smugglers Notch Resort introduced an on-site childcare center and covered the full cost for any employee who needed it while they were working. This benefit applied to all employees (full-time, part-time, seasonal) and was funded by the resort’s operating budget as an investment in staffing. The childcare center accommodates children of various age profiles, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Results

Beneficiary Impact
70 children served
Employee Impact
~$15,000 saved in childcare cost per eligible employee
Financial Results
~$980,000 in financial savings offered by Smugglers

Replication Tips

Cross subsidize with guest sales:  Offer the same high quality center to paying vacationers at market rates; dedicate that revenue stream to cover the $0 childcare costs of employees.
Use the solution to push for broader change: Leverage the childcare example to push for public solutions. Smugglers did not stop at helping its own employees; it banded with others to influence the state. This dual approach is powerful: you solve immediate needs in-house, and you lend your voice to systemic change that can help your future workforce and community. Other employers replicating this can gain positive public relations and potentially shape policy outcomes in childcare.