FOX CITIES, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Labor shortage issues are now affecting the child care industry. One of the Fox Cities largest providers, Play and Grow Learning Center, is changing its model.
“We opened in 2008, and I’ve never experienced anything even remotely close to this before,” Play and Grow Learning Center Owner and Business Director Jason Hodkiewicz said.
Hodkiewicz has dealt with a lack of workers for over a year. It reached a point in the last month when the business wasn’t able to fill all shifts, even with employees working overtime.
“We just couldn’t provide the care with the amount of staff we had. We had to make the adjustment to go to Monday through Thursday.
All parents were given a two week notice. Hodkiewicz said it’s been received better than expected.
“It’s definitely a scramble for them. But most of our families have been very supportive and understanding of the situation. Most of them have been experiencing the same thing in their jobs.”
About 500 kids go to the four centers, and hundreds more are on a waiting list. But the challenges of child care have been widespread.
“We, I think, have all faced staffing shortages even before COVID,” Community Child Care Center Director Karyn VanRyzin said. “I think it’s intensified in the last two to three years.”
VanRyzin said when workers leave due to natural turnover, no one is replacing them. Her center hasn’t shut down for any days, but ratios are limiting the number of kids.
“People have space — like facility space — for more children. But we can’t increase enrollments because we don’t have the staff.”
Both VanRyzin and Hodkiewicz understand how it is for the parents.
“We’re getting calls constantly for people looking for care,” VanRyzin said. “I feel for these families that are out there.”
“We want to get back to five days a week as soon as possible because we know that this is an inconvenience to our families,” Hodkiewicz said.
Hodkiewicz says Play and Grow is competing with businesses in other industries, which is why they raised their staff pay about 30% in the last two years. Daycares have received some funding since COVID, but Hodkiewicz hopes more will be available soon.
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