I pay my employees $1,000 a month per child for day care. It's one of my ice cream company's best investments.
Molly Moon Neitzel, CEO of an ice cream company, shares how providing childcare subsidies has improved employee retention and recruitment. She argues that investing in staff benefits is a viable strategy even for small businesses.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing debate over corporate responsibility and the impact of family-friendly benefits on business performance.
Molly Moon Neitzel, founder and CEO of Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream. Molly Moon's Molly Moon Neitzel founded her ice cream shop in 2008 with a plan to offer strong employee benefits. Three years ago, she began offering staff childcare subsidies of up to $1,000 a month per child. The move led to higher recruitment, lower turnover, and fewer call-outs. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Molly Moon Neitzel, founder and CEO of Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream in Seattle. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. I started Molly Moon's in 2008 to see if I could start a for-profit venture that made the world a better place. My business plan included living wages and free health insurance for everyone who worked at least 18 hours a week. We use organic ingredients, and everything that comes out of the shop is compostable.
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