Uber, the popular ride-hailing app, has recently announced their initiative to offer free childcare services to its drivers in the United Kingdom. This move is part of Uber's endeavor to attract more drivers — particularly parents with young children who may have difficulty finding childcare options that align with their work schedules.
The company has announced that it will provide 10 hours of free childcare to 1,000 of its UK drivers. Uber's UK General Manager, Andrew Brem, recently revealed that many drivers had shared their concerns regarding how childcare would help them earn more money. He noted that the expense required for childcare is often a barrier for women in joining Uber and that the new pilot program was intended to address that issue and help resolve this problem for prospective workers who have childcare as a deterrent from joining Uber.
Uber drivers in the UK earn an average of £34 per hour in London and £30 per hour across the rest of the country. However, the opportunities for high earnings are often at weekends and evenings, when many parents may have childcare commitments that prevent them from working. By offering free childcare services, Uber hopes to make it easier for parents to work during these times, thereby increasing the number of available drivers and improving customer service levels.
Tania Naseer, a single mother of three, who has been an Uber driver for several years, says that she used to spend money on childcare to allow her to work during the highest-earning times, such as late-night airport trips. However, as childcare has become more difficult to access, she has had to reduce her driving hours. The new Uber pilot program will help her to continue working while she studies for a degree in biomedical sciences.
This new initiative will certainly hold a lot of weight for thousands considering the cost of childcare is a significant issue for many parents in the UK. A recent report by the charity Coram found that the UK is one of the costliest places in the entire world for childcare! The average price of a part-time childcare place (25 hours) a week for a child under two in a nursery is £148.63. For many parents, this cost can be a significant barrier to working — and can especially be a hindrance during hours when they may earn the most money.
By offering free childcare services, Uber is addressing a key barrier to entry for many potential drivers. The move also highlights the growing importance of childcare support in the modern workplace, particularly as more parents seek flexible work options. As Uber continues to expand its services around the world, it will be interesting to see whether similar programs are rolled out in other markets.
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