Luxury cruise retailer Panache Cruises is offering staff flexible working during school holidays to make it easier for working parents.
Staff at the tech-enabled firm can already take advantage of hybrid working but the company has decided to take it one step further.
Anna Perrott, partnerships director at Panache Cruises, said: “I run a working parent forum, called ‘Back In Time For Bed’, which has over 2,000 members, and worrying about childcare during school holidays is a stressful time.
“From my own experience I pay £65 a day for nursery – or £1,200 a month.
“Childcare is expensive so we want to be as flexible as possible so people can work from home if required, work condensed hours, split shifts, weekend work etc so they get to spend as much time as possible with their children as well as helping financially.”
A consultation process highlighted that childcare over school holidays was a particular pressure point.
CEO James Cole said: “It’s not just about the money side of things but us as employers encouraging staff to spend as much time as possible with their children.
“I hate the phrase ‘work/life balance’ but we want people to get a better balance in their life.
“Introducing flexible working arrangements during school holidays allows our staff to spend as much time as possible with their children as well as helping financially.
“We also understand that children get sick and accommodate parental needs. Our mantra at Panache Cruises is ‘nothing is too much trouble’ and we really mean it.”
Panache Cruises was founded in 2020 and employs 58 people in Chorley and 10 in the US.