The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has offered childcare vouchers since April 2005. It has recently added a feedback facility for the scheme to its intranet for John Lewis and Waitrose staff.
Gill Bowler, implementation manager of benefits projects at the partnership, says the feedback forum has revealed that employees are generally happy with the scheme they are offered. “Our [employees] are delighted, both with the service from our provider and the tax and national insurance savings. The comments received are really positive,” she says.
Currently, 0.6% of partnership employees use the scheme, equating to around 384 of its 64,000 staff. Bowler says take up is restricted by rules stipulating that childcare must be registered because many employees enlist family members to help with childcare. In addition, rules governing the National Minimum Wage and Working Tax Credits mean some employees are unable to take part in salary sacrifice arrangements.
