1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,119 Speaker 1: Brought to you by Bank of America. Merrill Lynch seeing 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: what others have seen, but uncovering what others may not. 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Global Research that helps you Harness disruption voted top global 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: research from five years running. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: Smith Incorporated. There was like a Family Guy episode when 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: they had the family of like the Simpsons family came 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: to Rhode Island. And I can't believe I just admitted 8 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: on this podcast that I actually watched Family Guys sometimes. Hello, 9 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: and welcome back to Bloomberg Benchmark, a show about the 10 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: global economy. It's Thursday, octobert. I'm Scott landman and economics 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: editor with Bloomberg News in Washington, and I'm Kate Smith, 12 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: editor with Bloomberg in New York. Today we're going to 13 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: be talking all about the cost of childcare and why 14 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: it's an important economic issue. But first I wanted to 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: say that I'm even more excited than usual about today's show. 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: Do you know why, Kate? I think do? But keep going? Well, 17 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know if you're too young for this, 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: but there's a great tradition of crossover episodes of TV 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: shows you've had. You have the character from one show 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: go on another show, and then the network would promote 21 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: it as a quote unquote very special episode. One of 22 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: the most famous was when Steve Herkel went on Full House. 23 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: That was a major, major event in the history of television. 24 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: Do you know that? Um, I didn't know that it 25 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: was a very special event in television history. But I 26 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: think I have seen this because there was like a 27 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: Family Guy episode when they had the family of like 28 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: the Simpsons family came to Rhode Island. And I can't 29 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: believe I just admitted on this podcast that I actually 30 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: watched Family Guys sometimes. It's amazing, it's wonderful, it is, 31 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: it's really good. Well alright, well, in that tradition, so 32 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: Scott brought this up. In that tradition. One today we're 33 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: going to be giving our listeners are very own crossover 34 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: episode of Benchmark. So have a number of excellent podcasts 35 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: here at Bloomberg right now. I'm not sure if you 36 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: guys realize that one of them is called game Plan 37 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: and that's all about life at the office. So Rebecca 38 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: Greenfield is one of their co hosts, and she's with 39 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: us today in the studio. Hey, re Becca, Hey, thanks 40 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: for having me glad you could be with us. So 41 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: so this has been getting lost in all the madness 42 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: of this election campaign, but childcare is actually the one 43 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: issue that both candidates sort of agree on, at least 44 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: in that it's very expensive and the government should help 45 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: Americans by defraying some of the cost. That's what already 46 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: happens in a lot of European countries that are heavily 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: subsidized childcare, especially in Scandinavia and Western Europe exactly. And 48 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: Donald Trump released a plan last month to tackle the 49 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: cost through taxidental deductions and rebates and a mandated maternity lead. 50 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: Hillary Clinton, on the other side, has also pledged universal 51 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: pre kindergarten access and expansion of the child tax credit 52 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: and scholarships for parents who are in school now. As 53 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: my DC colleague Michelle Gemmers, it was reported a recent 54 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: study showed full time care and centers for young children 55 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: costs almost ten thousand dollars a year, about what you'd 56 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: pay for tuition at an in state college, and if 57 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: you want in home caregiver like a nanny, it'll cost 58 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: you around twenty eight thousand dollars. It's more than half 59 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: of median US household income on the other hand, you 60 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: have childcare workers making very low wages, just under ten 61 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: dollars an hours, the median wage in the United States. 62 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: And as a point of comparison, people who walk dogs 63 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: make more money. And you're kind of familiar with that, white, right, Kate. Yeah, 64 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: as I can personally attest on my bank account, can 65 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: personally attest dog dog walking, especially here in New York 66 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: is really expensive. Um, just as a way of comparison, 67 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: my dog walker is about fifty dollars a day, and 68 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: um my dog is not the only one, so he's 69 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: collecting that from with you other people too, So it's 70 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: pretty lucrative business here. Well, we're going to try to 71 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: reconcile all these strings today and talking about childcare. And 72 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: later on we'll talk with the head of a company 73 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: that runs more than two hundred childcare centers in the 74 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: US and he'll he'll tell he'll tell us about how 75 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: this all came to be. But first, Rebecca, in your 76 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: day job as a reporter, you've written a lot about 77 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: this issue. What have you found? What can you tell us? 78 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: So one thing that I tried to find out is 79 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: just like why childcare is getting getting so much more 80 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: expensive and is so expensive. UM. Like you said, it's 81 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: really frustrating for parents, especially working parents. UM. And it's 82 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: one of these things that it's very hard to make 83 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: more efficient. Even though you've mentioned that labor costs are 84 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: very low per person, UM, it gets very expensive really 85 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: fast because you know, there are regulations for really good 86 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: reasons about how many people can watch your children, UM, 87 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: and the real estate of the space, and it's state 88 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: by state, so it's a bit confusing. But you can 89 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: only bring down labor costs so much for UM a 90 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: childcare center. So that's definitely one thing that I found 91 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: that keeping the price up. Another possibility for driving the 92 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: price up is that the only way really to bring 93 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: it down would be government funding and UM, as you 94 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: mentioned here in the U S, there's a lot of 95 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: debate about how to do that, and the candidates have 96 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: been talking about it, but so far it's been like 97 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: a really piecemeal process. UM. And for now people have 98 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: to rely on UM their own money or if they're 99 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: very very lucky, their employers to offer them some sort 100 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: of help. Yeah, let's talk about this somewhere. I mean, 101 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: as as you guys may know, in the interest of 102 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: full disclosure, I do have a personal stake in this issue. 103 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: I have two young daughters, aged four and two. Because 104 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: I live in Maryland and we don't have Universal pre 105 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: K there or other kinds of subsidies for young children, 106 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: they're both in private preschool now, which is taking up 107 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: a very significant chunk of my income. And I'm looking 108 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: forward to next year when my older daughters in kindergarten 109 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: and some of that will start to go away. But anyway, 110 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: I'm lucky that I can afford this anyway and send 111 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: my kids to a decent place. But Rebecca, how how 112 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: do most parents of young kids make it work? It's 113 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: really difficult for a lot of people. I mean, I've 114 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: heard of a lot of families that have to working 115 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: parents where both the parents work to basically pay for daycare. 116 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: I mean, which is kind of crazy when you think 117 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 1: about it. If you know, one person could stay home 118 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: and care for the kids, but both people want to 119 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: work UM and so they have to work. But basically 120 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: that entire salary is just going towards daycare. So that's 121 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: one way people do it. I mean, there are some 122 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: programs here in New York. We do have UM pre 123 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 1: K and UM there's Headstart programs, but it's it is 124 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: really difficult for a lot of families, and there have 125 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: been a lot of stories written about people struggling to 126 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: pay for childcare. It seems that from what I'm hearing, 127 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: and I don't have children yet, so I, you know, 128 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: I haven't had to deal with this yet, but it 129 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: seems like it's kind of like a state by state approach. 130 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: Is that right? Yeah, because we don't have federal laws 131 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: for most of these things, much like maternity leave, family leave, 132 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: paid sick ly. Um. The changes are happening on municipal 133 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: and state levels. Interesting when the funding then comes from 134 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: state in local taxes only. Yeah, it really depends on 135 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: the program, Rebecca. What about companies that have childcare facilities 136 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: in the house? It seems like maybe that used to 137 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: be more common, but now it's dwindled to almost nothing. 138 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: What's going on with that? Yeah? I wrote a story 139 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: recently about that, how you know? And it was never 140 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: a hugely popular benefit, but it was something that a 141 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: chunk of companies were offering. And now something like two 142 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: of companies offer subsidized or unsubsidized childcare um at or 143 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: near a workplace, which is a benefit that employees obviously 144 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: really like it's just against so expensive and complicated for 145 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: companies to offer it that even now as we're seeing 146 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: an increase in a lot of benefits like this, like 147 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: we have seen an increase in certain industries of maternity leave, 148 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: in print to leave and family friendly benefits because they 149 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: know that's what employees want. UM, daycare on site just 150 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: hasn't picked up because it's like a huge headache for 151 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: companies and they'd rather just the way more popular way 152 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: to deal with this. And what we have here at 153 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg is that you just can put tax deducted money 154 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: towards your kids childcare. But only five dollars here as 155 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: as I'm as I've become well aware of it, right, yeah, 156 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: that's the limit. Um. Yeah, So that's like a much 157 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: easier benefit. You know, they don't have to worry about 158 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: staffing or liability of having kids nearby or all those 159 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: things that come with the complications of running a daycare. 160 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: All Right, we're going to take a quick break, but 161 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: when we come back, we're going to get some answers 162 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: straight from an authoritative source. His name is Scott Cotter, 163 00:08:51,600 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: and he's the president and CEO of Childcare Network brought 164 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: to you by Bank of America. Merrill Lynch. Seeing what 165 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: others have seen, but uncovering what others may not. Global 166 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: Research that helps you harness disruption voted top global research 167 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: from five years running. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Venner and Smith Incorporated. 168 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: Welcome back. We're joined now by someone who can give 169 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: us an insider's view of childcare costs. Scott Cotter is 170 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: the president and CEO of Childcare Network, has two hundred 171 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: and forty nine childcare centers across thirteen states in the 172 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: southeastern US, from Texas to Florida and all the way 173 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: up to Richmond, Virginia, not too far from d C. 174 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: He's joining us now by phone from his headquarters in Columbus, Georgia. Scott, 175 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 1: thanks so much for being our guest today. Yeah, thank 176 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 1: you for inviting me. I appreciate the opportunity. Glad to 177 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: have you. Let me ask you first, how would you 178 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: break down your flee fees you're telling me earlier it's 179 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: around people paying average of around seven hundred bucks a month. 180 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: Where do those dollars go into your costs? When it 181 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: comes to labor facilities, administration, clients, insurance and so on 182 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: and so forth. Yeah, absolutely, well as you would expect, 183 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: you know, in a service business like this. Uh, we 184 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: employ a lot of teachers. So you know, our number 185 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: one cost is labor, and it's roughly, you know, about 186 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: half of our of our total costs, you know, overall 187 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: in terms of the direct operating costs you know of 188 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: a school, you know, the administrators, you know, through the uh, 189 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: you know, teachers and other floating staff you know that 190 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: we employ. You know, facility cost you're gonna be you 191 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: know another and that's going to be roughly you know, 192 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: the you know, the rents on the properties, the property taxes, UH, insurances, 193 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: you know those those cost um and then you've got 194 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: another another in a variety of variable costs from food, 195 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: your supplies, consumables, utilities, repairs and and it's on a facility, 196 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: uh you know those types of things. And in our 197 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: corporate you know, administrative cost probably run between new five 198 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: to six and a half percent you know, you know, 199 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: per year. Uh. And that's generally how things you know, 200 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: break down. I mean, it's certainly, but obviously the number 201 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: one component is is the labor force, for sure? And 202 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: which of those costs have seen the fastest increase in 203 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: recent years, has anything been slowing or falling? And where 204 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: have you been able to save money? Well, I'd say, 205 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: you know, on the saving side, you know, generally food 206 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: costs have been coming down or at least been much 207 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: more stable. Uh. You know, we do provide um also 208 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: after school program, so we've got you know, a fleet 209 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: of six hundred busses that are on the road every day. 210 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: And and so you know, gas cost over the last 211 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: five years have been up and down, and certainly we've 212 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: been in a down phase, you know, for the last 213 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: you know, eighteen months or so. And I think some 214 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: of that foodput has helped, you know, on the food 215 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: cost side as well. But even though you know, individual 216 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 1: unit costs for food or down, um, you know, the 217 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: regulatory changes that us d A made, you know, with 218 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: the meal components, you know, we're actually investing in in 219 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: higher quality uh you know food that we're serving today 220 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: with the you know, the changes in the in the 221 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: food pyramid. So while the unit costs are less, you know, 222 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: we're actually actually putting more dollars towards food associated with 223 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: the menu changes you know that had been made. And 224 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: then on the on the labor side, certainly if you 225 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: go back to UM, you know, coming out of the 226 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: recession in two thousand and eleven and on a for 227 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: a child care business, that's definitely a you know, a 228 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: double edged sword in that, you know, uh, it's jobs 229 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,839 Speaker 1: that drive the need for parents, you know, to seek 230 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: out you know, child care services, and so you know, 231 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: demand coming out of the recession was certainly lower, but 232 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 1: at a ten percent unemployment, you know, the labor pool 233 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: that we had to draw fund from was you know 234 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: significantly greater, and we had you know, many more opportunities 235 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: on on the employment side, particularly with you know, higher 236 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: credential folks who may have been displaced you know, out 237 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: of the public school systems and that type of thing. 238 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: So but really, you know, over the last you know 239 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: five to six years, as the you know economy has 240 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: recovered and the labor repool has tightened up, and we've 241 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: really seen uh you know, pretty significant tightening you know 242 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: in the last you know eighteen months UM and so 243 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: really there's been a real driver on you know, you know, 244 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: our cost per hour of labor in the last you 245 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: know a couple of years as we continue to try 246 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: to uh, you know, maintain the you know, the quality 247 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: of our staff, and particularly the teacher credential component because 248 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: one thing that you know, most states are not changing 249 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: the minimum requirements, but they've instituted what are called voluntary 250 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: quality um rating and Improvement systems q r i S systems, 251 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: and so we do our best to participate in those systems. 252 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: Systems have been you know, highly successful. But you know, 253 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: one of the measurements that they use is the education 254 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: level of your staff. And in order to score high 255 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: in those measurements, so if I have an associate degree 256 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:50,959 Speaker 1: teacher and she worked or leave, that I've got to 257 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: go back into the workforce and try to replace that 258 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: individual with an associate degree teacher in order to maintain 259 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: my current rating. And that's where we're seeing you know, 260 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: signific think at UH challenges today and replacing someone you know, 261 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: on the higher end of the credentials and ultimately, you know, 262 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: the you know, incurring higher costs to employ that that 263 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: that person moving in and and I'd also say, while 264 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: we um you know, the cost for you know, labor 265 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: hour or going up today pretty pretty rapidly. Our business 266 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: has just become you know, so much more complex. And 267 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: I don't know that this is necessarily specific, just to 268 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: you know, child care network, but we have lots of 269 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: just other programs outside of just childcare for working parents. 270 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: So we're involved in Headstart Early head Start, State pre 271 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: K programs, and you know, in a variety of other 272 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: you know, very specialized programs. And you know, each one 273 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: of those comes with its own unique set of programmatic 274 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: requirements and regulations. And so ultimately we're just having to 275 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: employ more people to you know, run our business, to 276 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: you know, ensure you know, the quality control side, to 277 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: invest in professional development, you know, with our teachers from 278 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: a from a training perspective. So the business has definitely 279 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: gotten more complex and and and ultimately, you know, we're 280 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: just generally takes more people, you know, to run a 281 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: high quality center. What what can I interrupt for a second? 282 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: What you know, would you say your profit margins are reasonable? 283 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: Have they gotten bigger, smaller over the last five to 284 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: ten years. I would just say they're stable. I mean, 285 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, we've managed to uh, you know, coming out 286 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: of the recession, We've managed to grow our enrollments, so 287 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: our facilities are more highly utilized. But again, these other 288 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: cost drivers where we are you know, investing in the 289 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: quality of our programs and trying to improve you know, 290 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: our our rating in the in the systems they've been 291 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's been stable. Um, you know, it's 292 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: you know three to five percent you know on you know, 293 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: on the bottom line, so it's you know, very thin margins. 294 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: And again that's across the network of you know, two 295 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty schools, So you know it's ah, um, 296 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: you can be you know somewhat variable because our in 297 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: childcare it's a very fixed cost operation. So you know, 298 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: the first hundred students in a building, um may not 299 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: even get you to break even depending upon you know 300 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: what those fixed documentcy costs. So it's only the last 301 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: few children in a particular classroom or you know across 302 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: a building, you know, a facility that where any margin 303 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: would be generated in terms of you know profits. So 304 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: this all sounds pretty reasonable the way the way you're 305 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: describing it, even while you know people like to complain 306 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: about the cost of childcare in this country takes a 307 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: big chunk, but it sounds like, you know, it's not 308 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: a terribly uh you know, hugely profitable business and there's 309 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: all sorts of costs and issues you have to deal with. 310 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: Is there anything outside of direct government subsidies or kinds 311 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: of tact additional tax deductions that would lower the cost 312 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: for the for the for the customer, you know, unfortunately not. 313 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: I mean it's just an expensive operation to to maintain. 314 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: And you know you think about you know, the cost 315 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: of say a pre K program you know in the 316 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: public schools. Well, you know those programs are only operating 317 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: for for the school days, say six six and a 318 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: half hours. Uh, you know, in you know, in child 319 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 1: care settings, you know, we're open for for twelve hours 320 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: or more per day. Uh, you know, we don't have 321 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: a specific drop off and pick up time. You know, 322 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: parents we're trying to meet at working parents needs, so 323 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: depending upon their schedules. You know, children are coming in 324 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: and out of the program, you know, throughout the day. 325 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: And um, so from trying you know, having to have 326 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: a staffing model that meets those uh you know, parents needs, 327 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: it's just it's pretty pretty intensive, to be honest, I 328 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: mean in terms of total hourly um you know, an 329 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,159 Speaker 1: hourly schedule that has to be maintained you know in 330 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: a center. So um, you know, I really think it's 331 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: ultimately gonna take you know, as a country and US 332 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: you know, deciding that this you know, certainly given all 333 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: the brain research you know that's out there that you know, 334 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: this is something that's very foundational. And you know, we've 335 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: got to prepare to students for you know, for kindergarten 336 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 1: so that they're prepared for success what you know, when 337 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: they enter the polic school system. And and you know today, 338 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: I just don't think we we are have are making 339 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: those investments. I mean, certainly over the last five years, 340 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of talk um and and uh, 341 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: you know, I see potential, you know, on the horizon, 342 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: both with you know, both with what both candidates have 343 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: have somewhat promised in their campaigns, and there's been an 344 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: increased focus on childcare. And well, if I can jump 345 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: in speaking about those two campaigns, I mean, you know, 346 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: they both have come out with two different approaches to 347 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: pre kindergarten care and childcare. I mean, or is there 348 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: one in particular that you, as a business person prefers 349 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: that you think would be better for your business? Not 350 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 1: not specifically, because they haven't really provided a great deal 351 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: of detail. I mean, one thing that I would hope 352 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: that you know, we can preserve, you know, through any 353 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 1: additional investments that are made, whether they be federal or 354 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: various state investments, is to be able to preserve parental choice. 355 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: You know, I think that that a one size fits 356 00:18:54,920 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: all model is not going to be best and ultimately, um, 357 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: you know, not lead to the outcomes that you know 358 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: that we're looking for you for children. So I think 359 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: that we should be able to have a variety of 360 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: models and variety of settings that you know, can you 361 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: know that are all quality of course, um, and meet 362 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: those requirements. But but I think just giving giving parents 363 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: choice in whatever systems are developed is critically important to 364 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: the you know, overall you know success because I generally 365 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 1: you just believe that's important to be maintained today, Rebecca, 366 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: do you want to jump in with one question that 367 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: you could not find the answer to in your previous reporting. Yeah. 368 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: I so you may have alluded to some of the 369 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: answers already, but I haven't trying to track down why 370 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: childcare costs are reportedly rising faster than inflation. Um, and 371 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: I it seems like maybe you think like the competitive 372 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: job market might have to do with it. Are you 373 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: paying your labor more? Yeah? No, absolutely, no, absolutely I'm 374 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 1: paying more and I see that, and really I think 375 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: some of the UM data and statistics that are out there, 376 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lag peer read. Uh, And I've 377 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,199 Speaker 1: seen a real acceleration UM in those costs, you know, 378 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: in the last you know, twenty four months, I found that, 379 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: you know, it's reported that child care workers make something 380 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: like ten dollars an hour. It's something like really low rate, 381 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: but it sounds like you pay them more than that. 382 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: Now i'd say, you know, we're in that range. I mean, 383 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: we're in depending upon an individual's credentials. And again keep 384 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: in mind that we operate in the South predominantly, you know, 385 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: we're not we are in a number of you know, 386 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 1: urban or metro markets, but we're also across you know 387 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,679 Speaker 1: a lot of smaller, you know, sort of second tier cities. 388 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: But you know, so we're in that eight to twelve 389 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: dollar an hour plus you know range. Uh. You know, 390 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: there are other benefits associated with that, and we're particularly 391 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: many of our teachers also have children in our centers, 392 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: so they ultimately get significantly reduced um you know, childcare. 393 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: So you sort of look at that real wage, you know, 394 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 1: if they had to place their own child in childcare 395 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: and then seek employment you know elsewhere in terms of 396 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: what that might uh look like. But there's definitely been 397 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 1: a real acceleration you know over the last you know, 398 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: twenty four months in wage costs for us as we're 399 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: you know, in the market trying to compete you know, 400 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 1: for highly qualified staff. And then I guess, as I 401 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: said earlier, we're just employing more people because again, the 402 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: business is becoming more complex. There's so many other programmatic 403 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: requirements from this program to that one that just takes 404 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: more people. And and in all honesty, you know, I 405 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: think if you were to pull my administrators today, um, 406 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 1: you know, there there's pretty significant fatigue and burnout you 407 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: know right now, Uh you know, with them just given 408 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 1: you know, all the additional responsibilities that they have today, Um, 409 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: you know, with various you know, oversight, you know, which 410 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 1: is necessary. I'm not I'm not complaining about it, but 411 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: it's just a significant the different environment than even just 412 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,439 Speaker 1: five years ago. All right, Scott, We're going to have 413 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: to leave it there. This has been very, very informative, 414 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 1: and we really appreciate your time. Thank you so much 415 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 1: for joining us. No, I appreciate the opportunity to thank 416 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: you very much. And Rebecca, thank you very much for 417 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 1: being with us too. Thanks for having me all right well, 418 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: Benchmark will be back next week and until then, you 419 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: can find us on the Bloomberg Terminal and Bloomberg dot com, 420 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: as well as on iTunes, Pocketcast, and Stitcher. While you're there, 421 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 1: take a minute to rate and review the show so 422 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: more listeners can find us and let us know what 423 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: you thought of the show. You can talk to us 424 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: and follow us on Twitter at at Scott Landman. You 425 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: can find me at by Kate Smith, and you can 426 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: find our guest Rebecca at RZ Greenfield and our guest 427 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: company is on Twitter at at Childcare n E t 428 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 1: w K. Thank you very much and see you next week. 429 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: Brought to you by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Seeing 430 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: what others have seen, but uncovering what others may not. 431 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: Global Research that helps you Harness disruption voted top global 432 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: research from five years running. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Venner and 433 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: Smith Incorporated