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Employees need support when care plans fall through. Back-up care benefits offer emergency coverage to help working caregivers navigate the unexpected without sacrificing their peace of mind. Families get a much-needed safety net while their employers benefit in the form of increased productivity, stronger retention, and an enhanced ability to recruit top talent. It’s a true win-win.
Back-up care is an employer-provided benefit that offers caregiving coverage when a family’s regular arrangements are disrupted or unavailable. This on-demand solution allows employees to book a vetted care provider in their area, either in their home or at a dedicated location, for support when sudden needs arise. Employees can also speak with a care specialist to explore available options and for assistance with making a reservation.
Back-up care 101
Learn what to include in your back-up care program, how to create it, and how to reach employees. It’s everything you need to know for a winning employee experience.
With multiple generations in the workforce, organizations need versatile solutions for a wide range of caregiving needs to ensure that every employee can be their most engaged, productive self regardless of their circumstances at home. While traditionally thought of as a child care solution, back-up care coverage can expand as workforce needs demand — to infants, seniors, and everything in between.
Employer-sponsored back-up child care gives working parents coverage for both planned and unplanned gaps in their usual care, either via an in-home caregiver or at a dedicated child care center. For employees, this support reduces stress and allows them to stay focused on their work responsibilities without scrambling for a babysitter. For employers, it translates into fewer absences, improved productivity, and a workplace culture that values families.
Parents of school-age children face unique challenges that often go unaddressed and impact employee productivity and peace of mind. Back-up care for this age group can include seasonal camps and tutoring services, which contribute to a child’s academic and social development and ensure workforce continuity. Employees benefit from the reassurance that their children are engaged in meaningful activities while they work, reducing the need to take time off or juggle conflicting schedules.
An increasing number of employees are caring for aging parents or relatives, often in addition to their other dependents. Back-up senior care benefits allow them to access temporary in-home care providers or spaces in senior centers that provide a structured experience with social engagement for aging loved ones. In many instances, transportation services are also included. These resources help employees save time and reduce the stress of caregiving, so they can stay physically and mentally present at work.
That’s right — even pets can benefit from employer-sponsored back-up care. When employees need to travel for work or face last-minute schedule changes, pet care options like boarding, pet sitting, or dog walking ensure their furry friends are well cared for. Long-term, these benefits help build a comprehensive culture of care that fuels retention and other talent goals.
For employers, back-up care is more than just another benefit. It’s a valuable investment in the long-term well-being and growth of an organization. Leading employers implement back-up care to:
When caregiving issues arise, workforce attendance suffers. Employee caregivers miss 1.2 days of work per month on average due to dependent caregiving responsibilities. As these absences add up, deadlines are missed, and the rest of the team feels the strain as they attempt to fill the gaps. Back-up care gives employees the support they need at home to make it into work.
6 in 10 working parents report that say their work suffers when their personal life becomes overwhelming. Distraction leads to disengagement, which ultimately derails productivity. Back-up care benefits reduce these distractions, giving employees the peace of mind needed to be present and productive at work every day — enhancing organizational growth and revenue potential.
Replacing experienced employees is costly — especially as more senior leaders balance work with caregiving responsibilities. Gallup estimates that the cost of replacing a leader or manager is 200% of that individual’s annual salary. Back-up care helps retain talent and prevent costly churn by supporting all employees through life’s demanding moments, with 90% of employees saying that Bright Horizons Back-Up Care makes them more committed to their employer.
Back-up care is more than a convenience — it’s a lifeline for working caregivers navigating the demands of both career and life. Employees rely on this benefit to:
For the first time in two decades, employees rank work-life balance as a higher priority than pay when considering job opportunities. Back-up care is the ideal benefit for the modern workforce, as it allows employees to stay engaged at work without compromising their responsibilities at home. The result? A healthier, more sustainable work environment where employees feel supported — not overwhelmed.
When an employee’s regular care arrangements fall through, stress and uncertainty can derail their entire day. Back-up care offers a reliable safety net, enabling employees to respond with confidence — not crisis — when disruptions occur. That peace of mind translates into greater focus, engagement, and emotional well-being at work, with 90% of back-up care users reporting decreased stress and increased productivity because of the benefit.
Top employees in every industry are increasingly forced to scale back hours or decline promotions due to caregiving demands. In fact, 42% of working caregivers say their caregiving responsibilities hinder their career advancement. Back-up care gives career-oriented individuals the flexibility to pursue growth opportunities without sacrificing their personal responsibilities. It’s a powerful tool for retaining high performers and fostering long-term career advancement.
73% of U.S. workers have some type of caregiving responsibility outside of their full-time job. Back-up care is an essential lifeline that allows employees to balance family life with corporate ambitions. The data confirms it — among surveyed back-up care users, 95% say the benefit reduces their work-life stress.
For organizations, the benefit has a profound impact on workforce engagement and productivity. Fifty percent of caregivers either arrive late to work, leave early, or take time off because of caregiving responsibilities. These caregiving-related absences cost employers, on average, $5,600 per employee in annual productivity losses.
Back-up care helps reduce disruptions, supporting both business continuity and workforce stability. Just ask the 88% of caregivers who say they would have missed at least one day of work without it — or the 29% who say they’d seriously consider changing employers if the benefits weren’t available.
Check out our solutions page to see how back-up care could be the missing key to unlock talent strategy.
Back-up care is an employer-subsidized benefit that offers caregiving coverage when a family’s regular arrangements are disrupted or unavailable. Bright Horizons allows employees to instantly book a vetted care provider for immediate or scheduled support.
Back-up care can cover daycare, in-home care for dependents of all ages, school-age programs such as camps and tutoring, senior care, and even pet care, supporting employees with a wide range of caregiving needs.
Back-up care helps reduce absenteeism, boosts productivity, and drives retention by supporting employees through unexpected caregiving challenges. Caregivers are able to work their normal hours, allowing other employees to focus on their tasks without having to cover missed shifts.
Employer back-up care ensures families have the reliable care they need whenever their regular care plan is disrupted. It gives employees peace of mind and allows them to focus on work and career.
When emergencies arise or plans suddenly change, working parents can lose time and focus at work. Back-up daycare provides working families with quality child care, and similar supports, available when and where they need it, so parents can easily ensure their family is secure, allowing them to get back to work with minimal distraction.
If you’re part of a rewards/benefits team, or a broker working on an employer’s behalf, Get in Touch to explore options. Or, contact your rewards/benefits team about adding back-up care to your company's benefits strategy.
For infants to seniors care, back-up care gives employees peace of mind, knowing that they’re covered whenever life happens.
Looking to book care or access your employee benefits? Get started here.
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