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Victoria Conly

294

Talent Acquisition Operations

09/07/19 at 1:58PM UTC

Career

Dear Employers...

Backup Care. My company recently rolled out this benefit and I’m here to tell you it is LIFE CHANGING! My kids have approximately 857 “No School” days during the school year, not including snow days. (Ok, I’m rounding up from about 10). This used to mean that 10 of my vacation days went up in smoke before I even had the chance to accrue the time. So rather than using that time for recreation/vacation/activity of my choosing they were used for all-day referee sessions. “Mom, he took my Barbie!” “Mom! She said ‘butt’!” “Mooooom, I’m booooored!” And if I’m being honest, I’d still be checking emails and responding where I could so I wouldn’t fall behind. So instead of feeling recharged I’d feel absolutely depleted. Then along came Backup Care. I get enough of these days each year to cover all 857 “No School” days. No more falling behind, refereeing (during work hours at least), or vacation days up in smoke. As an employee I feel seen by my employer. My struggles are seen and they matter. I feel that they understand the value of having a whole employee. I feel motivated to bring my best to them every day. I feel a deeper sense of loyalty. Not just because of the benefit itself, but because of what it means. It means my employer doesn’t just say they care about me and my family, they measurably do. If you’ve been wondering if this benefit is worth it.... wonder no more. It’s worth every penny.

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Maria Ruiz

168

Graphic Designer. Calligrapher. Feminist.

09/09/19 at 4:38PM UTC

This is amazing and good on your employer for stepping up and not making women choose between their family, their career, and some well-deserved vacation time!

Sweet Caroline

4.25k

09/08/19 at 6:18PM UTC

My company has an arrangement with Bright Horizons which is great except the center is in our HQ, so if you are not based at the HQ or your kids have say a half day and you don’t live near work it’s not great. BH has other programs where you can use any center for backup, this far more appealing to me as an emplpyeee.

Victoria Conly

294

Talent Acquisition Operations

09/08/19 at 6:33PM UTC

That’s tough. We also use Bright Horizons. But we have the option for care centers local to us as well as in home care. Maybe your company will roll out more options once they see how popular it is!

Anonymous

09/09/19 at 1:46AM UTC

It’s been this way for 20 years, not much chance of changing

Crystal Rhineberger

2.29k

professional rofl nevermind lets just wing it

09/08/19 at 1:24PM UTC

If my company had offered this I would of never had to quit!

Angela VanSchoick

177

09/09/19 at 4:10PM UTC

I hear you! My daughter started kindergarten this year. There is an after school option through a science school that I was told would be pretty easy to get into - it's not. Which means I've been dashing out of work to pick her up from school and then to a different program 5 days a week. My employer is not happy and says they are showing me favoritism by allowing me to get into work at 8:30 (since I have to drop her off to school and can't do that before 8:10) and then allowing me to run off to drive her wherever. I come back to work and then stay late to make up the time - no longer get lunch hours because I have to use those for drop-off and pick-up and any conference calls that I need to attend as a board member of a national association (related to my work, which earned me accolades with the overall company, just not my office). They went so far as to tell me that I may have to choose between work and family! I'm salaried and have been told, in the past, that as long as I get my 40 hours in, it's okay. That seems to have changed since the end of August.

Crystal Rhineberger

2.29k

professional rofl nevermind lets just wing it

09/09/19 at 7:16PM UTC

You this is a double standard in the work world with alot of broken promises! Just because we have a child and home needs doesn’t make us bad. You hang in there my brave sister

Victoria Conly

294

Talent Acquisition Operations

09/09/19 at 5:04PM UTC

Angela I’m so sorry to hear that! I feel like every company says they value their employees but so few of them are truly living those values. Backup child care/elder care is critical for so many people. I really do think it’s gaining momentum though. It might be a conversation worth having with your HRBP.

Angela VanSchoick

177

09/09/19 at 5:13PM UTC

We're small enough that I don't think talking to HR is going to change anything. The answer they gave me was to put her in a different elementary school - which would guarantee my husband could never drop her off or pick her up and I'd be driving an extra 30 minutes if I had meetings somewhere besides the town I mainly work in.

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Victoria Conly

294

Talent Acquisition Operations

09/08/19 at 2:47PM UTC

Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that you had to leave because of this. I really want all employers to understand the value of this benefit. I think I read somewhere that Target just rolled out as well.

Paula R. Joseph

1.03k

Source/Manage/Coach/Scale High Performance Teams

09/07/19 at 4:16PM UTC

I have a friend who uses it for her under-age 5 children in two situations. 1) For days with their regular daycare is closed (holidays or in-service teacher training days) and both parents have to work. 2) For the times a child is mild to moderate sick (cold/temperature/cough...) and can't attend daycare, but is not needing a Dr visit or overseeing by a parent. A call to the agency the day before OR the morning of triggers the engagement of a licensed child care provider to come to their home. Their employer subsidizes about 20 days of this service a year. It has truly been a great benefit and positive impact to their careers, and gives them peace of mind that their children are well taken care of.

Victoria Conly

294

Talent Acquisition Operations

09/07/19 at 3:34PM UTC

Backup care is basically something you can schedule with either an approved daycare center or an in home nanny on demand. The service is heavily subsidized by the employer. I’ve used the in home care and had wonderful college nannies come and care for my crew while I worked. My company also offers this service for elder care if you’re caring for an elderly relative at home. It’s been a godsend.

Anonymous

09/08/19 at 9:11AM UTC

Great idea, and I love that it can apply for elder care too. Many of us who are not parents, or whose children have grown, are caring for parents or other older relatives. We face many of the same challenges but they are less often acknowledged.

Victoria Conly

294

Talent Acquisition Operations

09/08/19 at 2:50PM UTC

Yes! The sandwich generation is growing every day. Employers would be wise to build accommodations for this group if they want to attract top talent.

Anonymous

09/07/19 at 3:17PM UTC

I think its where you get to use a company-paid or company-subsidized vendor that provides childcare (e.g. an agency). I've never used it myself but I assume its also possible its literally just a financial benefit that covers the cost of childcare for days when they are not in school.

Anonymous

09/07/19 at 2:31PM UTC

So what exactly is “back up” care?

BansheeBailey

918

Former law firm accountant, now retired.

09/08/19 at 3:09PM UTC (Edited)

Apparently the employer has relationships with vetted agencies that provide home care or daycare on an ad hoc basis, so if the employer’s nanny or home health aide calls in sick, or the kids’ school is unexpectedly closed due to snow, one of the agencies can send someone to the employee’s home, so mom doesn’t have to miss work.