Companies That Care Will Win in 2016

04 Ene 2016, 00:00 AM EST

Care.com Workplace Solutions Forecasts Expanded Culture and
Family-Friendly Workplace Benefits in 2016

WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Move over health and dental! Workplace Solutions from Care.com (NYSE:
CRCM), a leading provider in helping companies support working families,
today announced
its predictions for what to expect in the workplace in 2016. The
overarching theme: companies that care will lead the way this year.
While the U.S. languishes at bottom of the pack when it comes to
supporting working families with programs like paid parental leave and
care subsidies, more and more employers are stepping up to the plate to
meet the evolving needs of our modern workforce. In 2015 alone, we saw
Netflix, Amazon, Credit Suisse and more announce expanded programs and
policies for working parents, and next year we predict an even greater
emphasis on family-friendly benefits and workplace culture.

“Companies are expanding their work-life benefits not just because they
want to, but because they have to,” stated Michael Marty, Care.com VP
and GM of Operations and Business Services. “We work with an innovative
group of companies, including five of the top eight on Glassdoor’s “2016
Best Places to Work” list, and in these conversations it’s obvious
there’s a recurring theme – if you want to be an employer of choice,
these are benefits that are going to help recruit and retain top talent
and keep employees present and engaged, especially the growing
millennial generation. More than ever before, employees’ family lives
don’t stop at the office door, so it’s companies that care that are
meeting the demands of our modern workforce and getting the best
results.”

CARE.COM WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS 2016 FORECAST

1. Time to Really #LeadOnLeave: Before and After – In the absence
of a federal policy providing paid leave for new parents, maternity and
paternity leaves have emerged as hot employee benefits. 2015 was the
year of updating parental leave for numerous companies worldwide, and we
see 2016 giving rise to the next evolution of paid leave: programs and
services that support employees both before and after their babies
arrive. We predict that we’ll see more formal and flexible transition
plans for leaving and returning to the workplace, subsidized backup
child care for last-minute emergencies, and more affinity groups for
working parents. Expect companies to get creative in how they support
this sector of the workforce, going above and beyond paid leave with
comprehensive supports that fit their organizational culture.

“These benefits are becoming increasingly important, especially for
millennials who are demanding that companies listen to their needs, and
they should, especially now that they account for the largest portion of
our workforce as of last year,” stated Marty. “We found in our Better
Benefits Survey that 83 percent of millennials would leave their
current job for one with better family/lifestyle benefits. Given the
size of this generation, they will have a significant impact on shaping
workplace policies.”

2. Supporting the Sandwich Generation – With nearly half of
adults ages 40-50 falling into the Sandwich Generation (simultaneously
caring for aging parents and children) and the 65+ population expected
to reach 55 million by 2020, we’re seeing a new wave of working
caregivers with work-life needs that employee benefits and workplace
supports have not traditionally addressed. In response, we’ll see
employers implement benefits and cultural standards to address the
challenges and stress of employees facing senior care issues in their
lives. Most importantly, the conversation of caregiving for an elderly
loved one will expand into the workplace, with companies providing
support groups and access to experts to help employees navigate their
family’s needs beyond the standard, reactive EAP. We expect to see more
robust, all-encompassing programs for employees that support more than
just the basics of senior care planning.

“The aging population is becoming more than just ‘the aging workforce’
issue,” added Marty. “Millennials now make up 25 percent of the 44
million caregivers in the U.S., and with 10,000 baby boomers retiring on
average per day this younger generation will need support, something
employers can and will need to provide.”

3. #BetterBenefits for the Modern Workforce – The shift in
workplace culture combined with generational differences means that the
one-size-fits-all approach to benefits needs to become a
one-size-fits-one approach. In 2016, expect to see more flexible
benefits, leveraging tech-friendly platforms and pay-as-you-go models
that allow employees to use what they need as they need it. Benefits
will also become “smarter” as employees engage more, providing relevant
information in a more timely fashion. And, as employees become more
mobile, expect benefits to become more mobile too. According to the
Care.com Better Benefits Survey, 40 percent of respondents would even be
more inclined to use employee benefits if they were accessible on a
mobile device.

4. Keeping Culture at the Core – With the continued rise of
flexible schedules and distributed talent, company culture — highly
valued by employees — can at times take a hit. We’ll see employers
looking to extend company culture beyond the corporate office walls. For
instance, expect to see more of an increase in fostering communities
among distributed workers through apps personalized to a particular
company and topic/issue.

“Even though employees may be thousands of miles from one other, we’re
seeing technology being used to create greater benefits equality and
cultural consistency among a distributed team. Mobile technology allows
remote employees to experience the company’s culture with access to the
same corporate benefits as those who work at the mothership,” added
Marty.

5. Ask the Experts: Perks That Go Beyond – Lactation consultants.
Social workers. Parenting experts. Yoga instructors. Personal chefs. As
companies strive to respond to the many challenges families face, the
workplace experts at Care.com are forecasting an increase in access to
experts as an employee benefit. From social workers helping to navigate
conversations around an employee’s aging parents to wellness coaches
providing healthier lifestyle suggestions, companies will give employees
access to professionals willing and ready to help with life’s challenges.

For more information about these 2016 workplace trends, visit workplace.care.com/2016trends.

About Care.com

Since launching in 2007, Care.com (NYSE: CRCM) has been committed to
solving the complex care challenges that impact families, caregivers,
employers, and care service companies. Today, Care.com is the world’s
largest online destination for finding and managing family care, with
10.1 million families and 7.7 million caregivers* across 16 countries,
including the U.S., UK, Canada and parts of Western Europe, and
approximately half a million employees of corporate clients having
access to our services. Spanning child care to senior care, pet care,
housekeeping and more, Care.com provides a sweeping array of services
for families and caregivers to find, manage and pay for care or find
employment. These include: a comprehensive suite of safety tools and
resources members may use to help make more informed hiring decisions –
such as third-party background check services, monitored messaging, and
tips on hiring best practices; easy ways for caregivers to be paid
online or via mobile app; and household payroll and tax services
provided by Care.com HomePay. Care.com builds employers customized
benefits packages covering child care, backup care and senior care
consulting services through its Global Workplace Solutions, and serves
care businesses with marketing and recruiting support. To connect
families further, Care.com expanded its consumer service with its 2013
acquisition of Big Tent, a community platform. Headquartered in Waltham,
Massachusetts, Care.com has offices in Berlin, Austin, New York
City and Silicon Valley.