by Anita Lo, Director of Worker Well-Being at the Ethical Supply Chain Program
For many of us, the summer months mean warmer days, less rain, and more chances to get outside. Companies often see an increase in sales of outdoor playsets, tents, and lawn games. But we rarely stop to consider whether the children of the workers making these products have the same opportunities to play outdoors.
Wages, worker protections, and workplace safety have long been central to ESG and responsible sourcing. Some businesses are now looking beyond basic compliance and considering what workers need as parents, caregivers, and members of their communities.
Supporting family well-being can help companies retain employees, strengthen engagement, and contribute to more stable communities. It can also show investors, customers, and regulators that a company’s responsibility does not end at the factory door.
This belief is at the heart of the Ethical Supply Chain Program’s Family-Friendly Factory initiative. Launched in 2016, the program helps factories create workplaces where employees and their families can thrive. That support may include flexible working hours, improved workplace policies, or employer-funded child care facilities.
By working with factories, community organizations, and consumer-facing brands such as The LEGO Group and Spin Master, we have supported more than 30,000 children and their families in the past three years alone.
Play is essential to children’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. It helps them solve problems, communicate, build confidence, and develop resilience. It also gives children room to be creative, use their imaginations, and better understand the world around them.
Playing outside brings its own benefits. According to UNICEF, outdoor play supports children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also creates opportunities for movement, exploration, and interaction with others.
Many children, however, do not have enough time or space to play. Save the Children reports that 1 in 5 children globally say they have no safe place to play, while 1 in 3 children and young people say they do not have enough time for it. Poverty, urbanization, and a shortage of safe community spaces continue to limit access.
These barriers can be especially difficult for the children of factory workers. Many families live in densely populated communities where safe play areas are scarce. Financial pressures, demanding work schedules, and other practical concerns may leave families with few options.
Businesses can help address some of those challenges.
Child care facilities with outdoor play areas or park excursions give children a safe place to spend time outside. Flexible schedules and parental leave can also make it easier for parents to support their children while continuing to work.
Knowing that their children are safe and cared for can ease some of the pressure workers face. That can improve family well-being while helping factories strengthen employee satisfaction and retention.
We have seen the business results firsthand through repeat participation in our employer-funded child care initiative.
- At one factory, worker turnover stood at 19.7% in 2016. It fell to 12.8% after the factory’s first year in the program and now stands at 5.1%.
- At another factory, turnover was 26% in 2020. It dropped to 10% after the first year and has since fallen to 2.3%.
Both factories also examined training expenses, worker-related injuries, recruitment, and other costs. The first estimated that it had saved $450,000 since joining the program in 2016. The second estimated savings of $621,000 since joining in 2019.
The play industry has a natural role in this work. Manufacturers, retailers, and brands already understand the importance of play in children’s lives. That understanding can extend to the families and communities within their supply chains.
Factory audits and compliance reports will always matter. But they do not tell the whole story. Companies should also assess whether their programs are improving the daily lives of workers and their children.
That could mean offering child care, creating safe play spaces, or giving parents greater flexibility. The right approach will vary from one workplace to another, but the goal remains the same: helping families build healthier and more secure lives.
Expectations around responsible business are changing. Companies are being asked to consider their effect on every community connected to their operations. Expanding access to play is one practical way to make a difference.
Outdoor play is more than a product category. It supports childhood development, health, confidence, and opportunity.
Responsible businesses recognize that workers do not leave their responsibilities as parents and caregivers behind when they enter the factory. By supporting workers’ families and giving more children the chance to play, companies can create benefits that reach far beyond the factory floor.
To learn more about how we help businesses extend the benefits of play to their workforce, contact me at anita.lo@ethicalsupplychain.org.
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