How One Company Paid for Child Care to Retain Women

Episode 30 of The Diversity Career Podcast explores a specific case: how a mid-sized professional services firm in Chicago, Smithfield Advisors, introduced a child care subsidy program in early 2024 and reversed a trend of mid-career women leaving the firm at twice the rate of men. We walk through the program design, the economics (a $2,400 annual subsidy per child), and the results after 18 months: a 40% drop in voluntary turnover among mothers with young children, and a measurable improvement in promotion rates for women. Lucas and Luna debate whether the program is scalable to smaller firms and whether it's a genuine equity intervention or just a perk that helps high earners most. The conversation stays grounded in a single example with real numbers, avoiding generalities. #ChildCare #WomenAtWork #Retention #Equity #Careers #WorkingMothers #DiversityAndInclusion #EmployeeBenefits #Turnover #SmithfieldAdvisors #MidCareerWomen #PaidLeave #CareerProgression #FamilyPolicy #GenderEquity #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo