{"id":2070,"date":"2022-06-01T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/benefits\/2018\/02\/08\/six-reasons-backup-care-is-a-must-have-benefit\/"},"modified":"2022-06-01T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T14:30:00","slug":"why-backup-care-is-a-must-have-employee-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/benefits\/why-backup-care-is-a-must-have-employee-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Backup Care is a must-have employee benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Backup Care, an employer-sponsored benefit that helps employees fill gaps in care—for children, adults, and pets—so they can get to work as scheduled, is one of the most critical employee benefits businesses can offer today. Here are five compelling reasons your company should prioritize Backup Care as part of your employee benefits strategy this year. <\/p>

1. Even the best caregiving arrangements break down at times, causing employees to miss work. <\/strong><\/p>

No employee is immune to an occasional breakdown in their regular care routines. Schools and day care centers close for scheduled holidays. A child wakes up with a fever and can’t attend day care. The regular caregiver takes a vacation….and the employee is scheduled to work. Without Backup Care benefits, employees are left scrambling to find care, which can be difficult and costly. And when employees can’t find care, they can’t work. <\/p>

2. Backup Care helps employees get to work even when their regular care is disrupted.<\/strong><\/p>

Caregiving shortages and the rising cost of care<\/a> make it difficult enough for employees to find ongoing care, let alone temporary care when their regular plans break down. Employer-sponsored Backup Care benefits<\/a> make it easier for employees to find and afford backup care by providing access to a network of vetted in-center and in-home care providers for a low (or no-cost) daily co-pay.<\/p>

To further help employees secure care in a pinch, many backup care programs, such as Care for Business<\/a>, also offer employees the flexibility to get reimbursed if they use caregivers from their own personal network—such as trusted friends, family members, or centers and caregivers outside of the care network. By providing flexible backup care options, employees can get to work, knowing their loved ones are in good hands.<\/p>

3. Backup Care reduces costly productivity losses and absenteeism for employers.<\/strong><\/p>

When your employees miss work, your organization takes a hit. Employers lose $3 billion<\/strong><\/a> in lost productivity from employee absenteeism due to child care breakdowns alone—and those costs dramatically jump when you factor in attrition rates of employee who miss or leave work to care for aging loved ones. <\/p>

Conversely, employers who offer Backup Care services report a 30 % decrease in absenteeism.<\/a> <\/strong>Better yet, Backup Care benefits work for clients of all industries—and companies can see almost immediate results. Within just a six-month timeframe:<\/p>