Don’t Leave Your Backup Care Benefits on the Table! 

Your kids have holiday breaks. You don’t. Your employer may already have a solution.

Did you know your employer may offer backup child care or adult care benefits that you’re not using?

Many major companies provide employees with access to subsidized backup care, yet plenty of working parents have no idea these benefits exist—or how many different ways they can use them. With Thanksgiving, winter break, and the end of the year approaching, now is the perfect time to find out what your employer offers.

At TLC Family Care, we help families find experienced, screened caregivers when their regular care arrangements aren’t available. And we’d love to help more working families understand the benefits they may already have.

What Is Backup Care?

Backup care is temporary child care or adult care that helps you keep working when your usual arrangements aren’t available or when you need additional support. Depending on your employer’s program, you may receive a certain number of subsidized care days or hours each year, often with a relatively small copayment.

7 Ways You May Be Able to Use Your Backup Care Benefits

1. School holidays and teacher workdays. Your children are off school, but you’re still expected at work. Backup care can help cover those days.
2. Thanksgiving and winter break. Need care for a few days while school is closed? You may be able to schedule care in advance.
3. When your child is mildly sick. Some programs offer in-home care for children who can’t attend daycare or school because of a mild illness.
4. When your nanny, babysitter, or daycare is unavailable. Whether your regular caregiver is sick, on vacation, or your daycare is unexpectedly closed, backup care can fill the gap.
5. Caring for aging parents or grandparents. Some employer programs include nonmedical adult care, companionship, and assistance for older family members.
6. Returning to work after having a baby. Backup care may help bridge a gap between parental leave and your regular child care arrangements.
7. When your regular care plans change. A temporary schedule change, a gap between caregivers, or unexpected work responsibilities may qualify.

Covered situations vary by employer and benefit provider. Backup care generally supports employees during working hours and isn’t automatically available for personal errands or leisure.

Your Employer May Offer More Than You Realize

Here are a few real examples of employer backup care programs:

Washington University in St. Louis: Eligible employees have access to 20 backup care days per calendar year for child or adult care. Unused days don’t roll over.

Adobe: Eligible employees can receive up to 15 backup care days per year, including in-home care for mildly ill children.

Starbucks: Its Care@Work benefit provides 10 backup care days per fiscal year for child or adult care, along with senior care planning services.

Microsoft: Eligible employees can access up to 200 hours of backup care per calendar year for children, adults, or older family members.

These are just a few examples. Other large employers also offer family care support, although the number of days, employee costs, and eligibility rules can differ.

How Do You Find Out If You Have Backup Care Benefits?

Start by asking your HR or benefits department:

1. Does our company offer backup child care or adult care?
2. How many days or hours do I have available?
3. When do my unused benefits expire or reset?
4. Can I use the benefit for school holidays, mildly sick children, or aging parents?
5. How do I register and request care?

You may also find information in your employee benefits portal under “Backup Care,” “Dependent Care,” “Family Support,” or “Work-Life Benefits.”

Some employers offer these programs through Bright Horizons, Care.com, Wellthy, or other benefit providers.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute!

If your benefits reset on January 1, you may have unused days available right now.

Check your balance, look at your family’s holiday calendar, and find out whether you can schedule care ahead of time. The care you need may already be part of your employee benefits package.

TLC Family Care Is Here to Help

For more than 40 years, TLC Family Care has helped working families find reliable, experienced caregivers for children and older adults. We provide professional backup child care and nonmedical adult care in many communities across the country, including St. Louis, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, and other markets.

If your employer provides backup care benefits, check your company’s approved booking process to find out how to access care. You can also contact TLC Family Care to learn about our services and availability in your area.

Don’t leave valuable family care benefits unused. Check your benefits today!

Employer benefit details are subject to eligibility, program rules, and change. TLC Family Care cannot guarantee that a particular employer benefit covers TLC services or that care is available for every request.