For many companies, the annual employee appreciation dinner is the highlight of the year—a time to celebrate wins, hand out awards, and strengthen team bonds. But for the leadership at a prominent Cincinnati engineering firm, a common dilemma arose: Should the event be “adults-only,” potentially excluding parents who couldn’t find sitters, or “family-friendly,” risking the professional atmosphere of a formal awards meal?
By partnering with an expert event planner and Jovie of Cincinnati, they found they didn’t have to choose. They could have a sophisticated, “classy” event while ensuring their employees’ children had the time of their lives just a few doors away.
The Challenges of Corporate Events for Working Parents
The engineering firm wanted their “Dinner of Thanks” to be a high-end celebration. However, they also knew that childcare is a major barrier to attendance. According to recent workforce data, nearly half of all working parents miss professional events or work days due to childcare gaps.
The firm’s event planner was tasked with a difficult mission:
- Maximize Attendance: Ensure every employee can attend without the “sitter scramble.”
- Preserve the Vibe: Maintain a professional, quiet environment for the awards presentation.
- Ensure Safety: Provide a solution that families with diverse childcare needs can trust.
Jovie of Cincinnati Delivers On-Site Childcare for 70 Children
The event planner reached out to Jovie of Cincinnati to create a custom, on-site childcare solution. Unlike a simple babysitting service, Jovie provided a fully managed “Kids’ Zone” within the venue.
- The Scale: Jovie deployed a team of background-checked, professional caregivers to manage 70 children ranging from toddlers (age 2) to pre-teens (age 12).
- The Programming: Rather than just “watching” the kids, the Jovie team provided four hours of age-appropriate entertainment, games, and structured play.
- The Professionalism: Jovie handled the logistics—from secure check-in/check-out procedures to ensuring the children stayed “contained” and safe, preventing any disruptions to the formal dinner nearby.
The Results of Professional Corporate Event Childcare
The impact was immediate. The “Dinner of Thanks” went off without a hitch. Parents were able to network and enjoy their meal in a “professional and classy” setting, while their children were mere steps away, having their own fun.
The feedback from both the event planner and the firm was overwhelming:
“The client wanted guests to be able to enjoy the event without worrying about what to do with their kids, but they also wanted to ensure the dinner was professional and classy, not the noisy chaos of a family picnic. The Jovie team provided 4 hours of childcare to nearly 70 kids… the caregivers were fully engaged and provided age-appropriate entertainment, all while keeping them safe and contained in the children’s area of the venue. Before, during, and after the event, everyone I interacted with on the Jovie team was customer service-focused, friendly, and most importantly, respectful of the trust that my client and I were placing in them. My client plans to book Jovie again for next year’s event, and I will certainly be recommending Jovie to any future client who may need similar childcare services.” — Event Planner
For the engineering firm, the “win” was seeing the morale boost among their staff:
“Thank you so much for providing such a fun evening for our employees’ children during our celebration/awards meal. To see all the happy faces at pick up filled my heart! So many smiles, so much happiness… and it was bedtime for most of them! Well done, Jovie team!” — Corporate Client
Why Employers Choose Jovie for Professional Event Childcare
This Cincinnati case study highlights why Jovie is the go-to partner for event planners and corporate HR teams:
- Customer-Service Focused: We work as an extension of your planning team, respecting the trust placed in us.
- Engagement, Not Just Supervision: We bring the fun, ensuring kids are as excited to be there as the adults.
- Scalability: Whether it’s 7 children or 70, Jovie of Cincinnati has the “deep bench” of W-2 staff to handle large-scale corporate needs.
Partner with Jovie for Your Next Corporate Event Childcare Needs
Planning your next company gala or appreciation dinner? Don’t let childcare be the reason your top talent stays home. Our professional caregivers will ensure your guests’ little ones are well cared for, so your guests can relax and be present! Contact Jovie today to see how we can help you host an inclusive, professional, and stress-free event.
