Bell Atlantic and CWA Partner to Provide Child-Care During School Holidays

Bell Atlantic and CWA Partner to Provide
Child-Care During School Holidays

Kids in the Workplace Expands to Four New York Locations

December 23, 1999

NEW YORK -- School holidays -- kids love them, parents dread them.
Who's going to watch the kids while mom and dad are at work? Thanks
to a program recently launched in New York by Bell Atlantic and the
Communications Workers of America (CWA), that question is easily
answered: Bring the kids to work.

The Bell Atlantic and CWA "Kids in the Workplace" program
provides day care for employees' school-aged children (from kindergarten
to age 12) at their work locations on holidays when public schools are
closed, but Bell Atlantic is open.

The program, which has been underway in Bell Atlantic locations in the
mid-Atlantic states for several years, has expanded to four New York
locations: one in Yonkers; one in Jamaica, Queens; and two in the Bronx.
The company plans to open a fifth site in Brooklyn in January.

"We did surveys and found that employees were very interested in
this kind of program," said Michael Score, Bell Atlantic manager,
Human Resources Strategies. "It's one of many tools we provide
our employees to help them balance their personal and professional
lives."

"Programs like this one have been shown to reduce employee stress
and absenteeism, which directly impacts a company's bottom line. In
addition, employees who know their children are being cared for nearby
are more focused on providing quality service to their customers,"
Score said.

"I loved having my son near me," said Dorine Watson, sales
associate in the company's Bronx Residential Service Center, who took
advantage of the program the day after Thanksgiving. "I was happy
that he was happy, and that I could check on him during the day."

The children are cared for in a reserved space, such as a conference room
or other vacant office space, which is staffed by certified, licensed
caregivers. Youngsters participate in structured activities. There is no
charge to employees, but children must be registered in advance to
participate. Fifty-seven employees have registered 75 children to attend
Kids in the Workplace in the four New York locations the week between
Christmas and New Year's.

"This program is a wonderful benefit to union members," said
Donna Dolan, director, Work and Family Issues, CWA District 1.
"It is a perfect example of how our Work Family Committees and
local management can partner to fund a mutually beneficial
program."

The success of this program is a direct result of the cooperation between
local Bell Atlantic management and the CWA. In New York, Kids in the
Workplace is funded by the joint Union/Management Regional and Local
Work and Family Committees and Bell Atlantic.

Ceridian Performance Partners, a Minneapolis-based company that
provides work effectiveness programs for over 10,000 client companies,
manages the program for Bell Atlantic.

Editors: For photographs, or to visit one of the locations, call Sharon
Beadle 212-395-1802.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines and nearly 10 million
wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of
advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services
and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic
companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global
communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.