Benefits July 24, 2008

Workers with Backup Care Benefit Less Stressed, More Productive

July 24, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Recent research by Work Options Group, a Colorado-based company that specializes in the provision of corporate-sponsored backup care, finds 89% of employees offered a backup care benefit say just knowing it is available reduces their stress levels at work.
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According to a press release, 82% of those offered the benefit said using it reduced their level of stress at work. Nearly as many (78%) said it enhanced their productivity at work.

Almost all (99%) said backup care is an important employee benefit, while 77% said they ranked the backup care as one of their top employee benefits. The same number (77%) said being offered backup care makes them more loyal to their employers. Ninety-four percent reported that the benefit offering indicated to them that their company wants them to be able to balance work-life responsibilities.

If the backup care had not been offered, employees said they would have had to:

  • Miss work to provide care for my loved one – 71%,
  • Conduct an independent search for short-term care – 14%,
  • Ask friends or family to provide care for my loved one – 13%, or
  • Other (including “work from home,” “change my work schedule” and “bring my child to work”) – 2%.

Work Options Group said a growing number of companies are adding backup care to their suite of employee benefits in an effort to reduce unscheduled absenteeism, boost workplace productivity, and support employees with family care responsibilities. Backup care acts as a “safety net” for employees who care for children, adults, or elderly loved ones by providing temporary care so employees can get to work when their regular caregiving arrangements are unavailable.

Over the past year, the number of companies offering the backup care program through Work Options Group has increased 30%, the company reported.

Results from the 2008 Backup Care Survey are based on responses from more than 1,200 people from 130 U.S. companies who used the Backup Care Options program between March 1 and May 31, 2008.

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