What is Back-Up Child Care, Exactly?
Back-up child care provides a reliable care solution when working families are in a pinch and their regular child care is unavailable. It has quickly become an essential employer-sponsored benefit. Why? It gives employees a safety net whenever they need care — so, instead of having to skip work and stay home with their child, they can find care to fill the gaps without missing a beat.
All back-up child care programs are different. But in many cases, back-up child care might be offered at an on-site center at work — or at a center nearby. Or, it might be provided through in-home caregivers.
How Does Back-Up Care Work?
Most employer-sponsored back-up child care programs offer the option to schedule care over the phone or online — or even on an app.
Bright Horizons Back-Up Care™, for example, has a 24-hour call center staffed with experienced consultants and easy online booking to help employees arrange the best possible care for their children. One call or a couple of clicks — that’s all it takes for employees to find care they can trust.
The Benefits of Back-Up Child Care
In today’s workplace, employees with children need back-up care more than ever. When regular care plans fall through, many employees have no choice but to miss work. And that means absenteeism and lost productivity.
In the U.S. alone, organizations lose over $33.6 billion annually due to lost productivity from care-related absenteeism. Giving employees the family support they need helps them keep their head in the game and provides the peace of mind they need to focus on work.
And not only do employers benefit from the higher productivity, but they also see lower employee turnover. Additionally, employees with access to back-up care are happier and less stressed!
