MONTGOMERY — Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) officials announced on Friday the company would begin offering up to $150 per month child care subsidies to workers at their Montgomery plant.
Reggie Williams, HMMA's senior manager of human resources, told reporters after a press conference at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Friday that the payments would cover 25% of an employee's total monthly childcare costs up to $150 per month.
Williams said Hyundai officials began discussing the new benefit around the middle of 2023.
"Our team members had been reaching out to us and asking us about ways that we could help them to make it easier for them to come to work. Part of that challenge had been child care and so this is a game changer for us," Williams said. "We did some surveys. We looked for some other alternatives. We looked at the possibility of maybe building a child care center. It's too expensive and it wouldn't give us the flexibility that we need based on what we saw."
The news comes on the heels of the United Auto Workers (UAW) announcing an ongoing unionization push at Montgomery's Hyundai plant.
The UAW's announcement last month and Hyundai's announcement on Friday are unrelated, according to Williams.
"I don't have much comment about what UAW is doing, but we like to listen to our team members directly and we feel like that's the best way to be able to respond to their needs," Williams said.
HMMA will use the childcare platform TOOTRIS for the new program.
Ellen McNair, Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary, said at the press conference, "We're hoping that other industries follow Hyundai's lead in taking on this initiative and program."
"It's actions like this, putting your team members first that makes Hyundai a first-choice for employees in Central Alabama and it's the reason that you are a leader in this state's business community," she added.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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