Professional Guard Services’ childcare initiative is giving working parents peace of mind and urging other companies to do the same.
SECURITY and support have been guiding pillars of Professional Guard Services since its establishment more than four decades ago. However, the company has taken its motto one step further by creating a free on-site care facility for the children of office employees. What started as a trial venture in December of last year has blossomed into a cherished part of the company. In an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, Managing Director, Sean Kirkpatrick and Human Resources Manager, Afiana Lesperance, say the space has had an incredibly positive impact on employees and the company, offering support, safety, and peace of mind.
Professional Guard Services is one of Guyana’s oldest security firms, with a strong track record of being both helpful and professional. This is why the company began the venture. Managing Director Kirkpatrick says that the idea of having a childcare space for his employees has long been a goal of his. Backed by his team, that dream became a reality late last year. “Apart from being security, we are safety-conscious and we are helpful,” he added. “Our Human Resources Manager came up with the initiative, and it has been a long-term goal of mine. I keep showing slideshows from years ago, but it was definitely one of the things we wanted to do, and this year might have been the best year to start. It was well received and we plan to continue from last year. It was a team effort. We are all here chipping in and helping out.”
While the idea has been in the works for some time, it only became a reality through the encouragement of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Day, Night, and Early Childhood Centres Programme. This is why, when schools across the country closed their doors for the Christmas holiday, and offices stayed open, Kirkpatrick and his team took the opportunity to open the centre with just a few children. “Sometime last year, the GCCI had a meeting with its members and the minister, and she suggested that people offer childcare for their employees,” he added. “Now, last December, this was highlighted because we had a lot of staff who had kids they could not tend to because they had to come to work and the kids were off from school. Being that school closed for Christmas, we decided to give it a short try and see how it would work out.”
Human Resources Manager Afiana Lesperance was also a major player in the venture’s creation. During interviews with employees, Lesperance saw firsthand the challenges that working parents face. As she shared, new employees were seeking night shifts rather than day shifts, while admin workers were requesting time off during the holidays to care for their children, particularly single parents. “Christmas came about, and our own admin employees were saying, oh, we have to write for time off because we cannot work and have our kids at home without daycare. If I do daycare, one employee said, it will take more than my salary.” She added, “So I came back, and I told my boss, and he was like, you know, we have been planning this thing for years now, but he said, it is just the finance, it is a lot to put into it, but we did it.”
The company’s facility began small, but its impact was felt immediately. As Kirkpatrick explained, “We had about five kids. Some would come every day, some would come periodically. And it worked out for us very positively.” As the number of children grew, so did the centre’s positive influence. As he added, “The people were able to get their work done knowing their child was safe here, and if there were any issues, we could always contact the parent to l et them know right away. We really do plan to open up to the larger security force, but we are confident in some support from the ministry also. We have asked for donations of toys and books from our personnel, and that should be positive in the near future.”
To ensure its sustainability, however, the centre operates with clear guidelines. While the centre is equipped with someone caring for the children and resources such as books, play mats, and a napping area, the company also has rules that parents must follow. As Lesperance shared, parents are required to check on their children, particularly during lunch periodically. Despite this, Lesperance says the feedback on the centre has been overwhelmingly positive. “Some of the feedback we had after Christmas is that I was so grateful to have my kids at work. Peace of mind, I have so much peace of mind,” she added. “One quote—some people even said they had to spend less, because normally when school closed, you spend a lot of money when your kids are at home, but by bringing them to work, it was less spending and all of that. So it turned out to be a great thing in December.”
The centre’s flexibility is also something employees praise. As Kirkpatrick explained, the centre allows parents to drop off their children at any time of day, whether at the beginning of the working day or in the afternoon after school. “They were happy to have their kids there by them, checking on them during lunch hour. If they had any emergencies or any break, they can just come and check.” Sharing the experience of an employee, he continued, “So for example, Mr Cesar, he was one of the employees that made a statement yesterday. Normally what happens is that he picks up his daughter and he has to leave her at the neighbours, and sometimes it’s hard for him. So because we have that service, he was able to bring his child back. She now stays here until he gets off after work. That’s why we did it. Because we have young kids coming out from school and then they got nowhere to go because the parents are working.”
But Kirkpatrick and his team are not stopping here; they are encouraging more companies to follow suit. As he explained, the centre is more than just a safe space for children; it creates a sense of ease and safety for employees. “I would encourage anybody to do it, and everybody with a business, you have your staff. Yes, it’ll take up a little space, but it’ll give them the peace of mind they need also. Especially single parents who cannot always be there for their kids.” As Lesperance added, “It does not take a lot. It is a great initiative, and it shows care. It gives back not only to your community but to your employees. So jump on it, jump on it and run with it. It gives you, as the head of the company, a lot of benefits, because you have your employees here. You know that they get the job done while their kids are safe.”
