The Real Cost of Motherhood

We often talk about the high price of childcare in the United States, but just how expensive is it? Today Winnie launched a cost calculator to provide up-to-date information on the cost of childcare. The data populating this cost calculator is regularly updated based on prices that providers share with Winnie. As the leading marketplace for group licensed childcare, Winnie has access to data that isn’t available anywhere else at this scale. We’re proud to make this tool available at winnie.com/cost-calculator

This day has a special significance. August 7 is Moms Equal Pay Day, the day that raises awareness of the pay penalty mothers experience in the workplace. Known as the motherhood penalty, women often experience a significant reduction in earnings when they have children. 

Childcare is clearly expensive, but even more so when you take a pay cut just for becoming a mother. At Winnie, we are committed to paying our employees fairly, no matter their parenthood status. That's why we have taken the Equal Pay Pledge, reaffirming our dedication to closing the pay gap and ensuring fair compensation for all employees.

Childcare is clearly expensive, but even more so when you take a pay cut just for becoming a mother.

Our commitment to equal pay

By taking the Equal Pay Pledge, we commit to the following actions:

• Conducting an Annual Internal Company-Wide Gender Pay Analysis: We will regularly assess our pay structures to ensure that all employees are compensated equitably. This analysis will help us identify and address any disparities in pay that may exist within our organization.
• Reviewing Hiring and Promotion Processes and Procedures: To reduce unconscious bias and structural barriers to equality, we will carefully evaluate our hiring and promotion practices. By implementing more inclusive and equitable processes, we aim to create a level playing field for all employees.
• Promoting Equal Pay Best Practices: We will actively share and advocate for best practices in equal pay, both within our company and in the broader community. By fostering a culture of transparency and fairness, we hope to inspire other organizations to do the same.

Let’s change the math

Raising children is expensive. We hope that Winnie’s childcare cost calculator helps parents plan based on the reality of how much childcare costs in their area. By making the data available and transparent, we also hope policymakers take the challenges parents face more seriously.

There’s one change we can make today though to ensure at least mothers are paid fairly and not taking an extra income hit just when their expenses ramp up. We hope that more companies will take the Equal Pay Pledge and pay mothers fairly.