A recent survey of 473 Minnesota businesses conducted by Parents in the Workplace (a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota) revealed that most area businesses provide or are considering providing a wide range of child care related benefits for employees. Flexible scheduling of employees' work hours, part-time work, leave to care for sick children, and disability leave for new mothers lead the list of benefits now offered. Benefits being considered include worksite parent education seminars, child care information/referral service, joint cooperation with other businesses in providing child care benefits, a flexible benefit program which allows employees to choose which benefits they want, and subscription to outside agencies to provide family-related services. Over 70 per cent of the respondents believe that assisting their employees with child care needs has a positive effect on absenteeism, employee recruitment, retention, productivity, and morale. Among the major concerns identified by employers of parents are absenteeism due to sick children, the inability to locate adequate child care providers, and providing equal opportunities for all employees to take advantage of child care benefits. (Author/MP)