Optimally combining professional life and private life can prove a conundrum. Continental is of help here with flexible offers for its employees and support for local family alliances.

With the “pme Familienservice GmbH“, Continental in Hanover provides its employees childcare assistance. The family service is an independent company that counsels parents and arranges childcare to suit their individual requirements. Continental finances this service, while the employees bear the costs of the nanny or childcare center.

In alliance with other companies in the regional “Netzwerk für Kinderbetreuung Taunus” (Taunus Childcare Network), the Frankfurt location has launched a pilot project for company-supported childcare aimed at making it easier for parents of small children to go back to work. The range of measures provided by the alliance extends from the organization of a know-how-exchange network through to creation of a range of childcare options offered in union with other companies.

The Ingolstadt location has entered into a cooperative partnership with “Bürgerhilfe e.V.” to make possible innovative working time models. The Bürgerhilfe, or citizens’ advice bureau, offers employees slots for their offspring in kindergartens and other childcare centers.

In October 2007 Continental developed a flexible childcare program at the Hanover-Stöcken location in collaboration with “pme Familienservice GmbH”. On the basis of talks with employees, it was found that ongoing childcare did not present a problem, whereas organizing alternative childcare did prove difficult. The program thus rests on three pillars: the ContiFamilyService, the ContiKinderClub (Conti Kids Club) and the ContiElternSOS (Conti Parents SOS). The goal is one of supporting parents in the event that a child suddenly falls ill or when childcare centers, kindergarten and schools close for vacation or parents are called away on business at short notice.

ContiFamilienService is of assistance to parents in finding and selecting nannies, au pairs or slots in childcare centers or kindergartens.

The ContiKinderClub provides at-plant childcare during the school vacation period. "pme Familienservice” staff with a background in pedagogy work out the one- to two-week events program for the kids. During the fall vacation, the ContiKinderClub already successfully ran a pilot project of this kind for 36 kids. The weekly cost amounted to €250 per child, with Continental covering €190 of the fee.

ContiElternSOS provides parents assistance when their regular childcare becomes unavailable at short notice – for example, when the kindergarten has to close due to illness. For this purpose Familienservice has reserved emergency slots in childcare facilities and with childminders. To ensure that the children quickly feel at home in the new situation, the parents supply Familienservice with all relevant information on their children – what they like to eat or their favorite toys, for instance. Continental covers the cost of this service, which works out to between €90 and €150 per day.