Ride-share firm Uber has expanded its carer benefits to ensure more of its 100,000 UK drivers are able to access free childcare.
Through its partnership with on-demand childcare platform Bubble, Uber drivers who are parents can browse, meet and book local, vetted babysitters and nannies in advance or at short notice.
During a 2023 scheme pilot, Uber funded 10,000 hours of free childcare for 1,000 Uber drivers. Following its success, with 96% of participants saying it helped them take on more work, the employer will now fund 20 hours of free childcare per year for all of its UK drivers to help ease the burden of balancing work and family life.
The partnership expansion plays a role in Uber’s aim to enable more parent and female drivers, in particular mothers, who are often unable to earn at some of the most profitable times, such as evenings and weekends, due to childcare responsibilities. It aims to remove a significant barrier to help more parents access flexible work and boost their earnings.
Andrew Brem, general manager at Uber UK, said: “From our conversations with the drivers who took part in the initial trial, it’s clear that this extra support can make a huge difference to parents who want to get on the road to earn around their childhood responsibilities. We hope that it helps in our aim to sign up more parents, in particular mums, to try earning on the app in a way that works around their existing responsibilities. They will also benefit from a pension, holiday pay and other protections such as free sickness and injury cover, as we continue to change flexible work for the better.”
