7 reasons employers should consider family-focused benefits

June 18, 2021 12:06 PM

Balancing professional and home responsibilities has only become more difficult thanks to the pandemic, but employers are becoming more aware of the struggles their working parents are facing.

When employers invest in family-focused benefits they create an environment of support and understanding for their employees. Family-focused benefits can come in a variety of forms including backup child care, fertility benefits and extended parental leave.

Read More: The 16 most popular employee perks

While families where both parents work full-time make up 46% of U.S. households, according to data from Pew Research Center, only 9% of employers are providing or considering providing child care subsidies, and only 7% were providing or considering providing onsite child care services, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Fertility benefits are more prevalent than child care services, as 19% of employers provide IVF coverage and 18% provide infertility benefits besides IVF, according to SHRM.

Paid parental leave has yet to become a universal offering in the U.S., as only 27% of employers provide this to workers, according to SHRM data. However, employers who invest in these benefits are not only providing support to their employees, but also reaping the benefits.

“Many family-friendly benefits have a very high ROI for business results,” says Allison Whalen, a co-founder and CEO of Parentaly, an organization that works with employers to provide employees a guided parental leave experience. “Businesses get to enjoy higher retention of productive and motivated employees. Employers should not shy away from asking, ‘What's in it for me?’ in providing family-friendly benefits, because there is usually a strong business case.”

In honor of Father’s Day, Employee Benefit News rounded up some of its most recent articles pertaining to family-focused benefits. Scroll through this list and learn why your employees are craving these benefits.

Paternity leave is the key to equity at work and at home

Family planning benefits are becoming increasingly in-demand in the workplace, yet often focus on supporting female employees with fertility, birth and postnatal support. While important, employers should be aware of the shifting definition of a “traditional family” and make sure their benefits support all individuals, says Paris Wallace, CEO of Ovia Health, a digital health platform.

Read More: Paternity leave is the key to equity at work and at home

Welltok to offer Maven and Progyny as demand for fertility benefits rises

Welltok, a well-being platform, is boosting their family planning support by adding benefit providers Maven and Progyny to its suite of offerings. The programs will help close the care gap for minorities and those who cannot afford the expense of IVF treatments.

Read More: Welltok to offer Maven and Progyny as demand for fertility benefits rises

Employees need more than IVF to start a family

Ovia has launched a comprehensive payment plan where they'll help employers with reimbursements and help employees pay for adoption and surrogacy services. The goal is to make reimbursing adoption and surrogacy benefits as easy as filing a medical claim, which most companies are already doing on a daily basis.

Read More: Employees need more than IVF to start a family

Investing in child care benefits creates a more equitable workforce

Workplace norms are still rooted in traditional gender roles, and women are more likely to pause or abandon their careers in order to raise a child — but those assumptions are no longer reflective of today’s workforce, says Leilani Carver, an associate professor of communications at Maryville University and an expert on women in leadership.

Read More: Investing in child care benefits creates a more equitable workforce

Permanent WFH is the key to retaining working parents

Working parents don’t want to go back into the office — they want employers to make it easier for them to stay out of it.

“The positive impact from the flexibility that comes from working remotely can't be overstated,” says Brie Reynolds, career development manager and coach at FlexJobs. “Working remotely gives you more control over your daily life, allowing parents not only to better care for children, but to care for themselves and their mental and physical health as well.”

Read More: Permanent WFH is the key to retaining working parents

5 Ways to support working parents post-COVID

When the pandemic hit, working parents’ schedules stretched from sunup to sundown as they added the responsibilities of teacher, nurse and nanny to their already-hectic days. Sixty-five percent of working parents (whose children participated in remote learning) have experienced burnout as a result of the pandemic, according to a 2020 survey by Eagle Hill Consulting. As the vaccine rollout continues and employers begin to think about what the future of work will be, they must make considerations for employees who have created a new routine for their families. Here are five to prioritize.

Read More: 5 Ways to support working parents post-COVID

12 working moms speak up about the benefits they want from employers

Mothers have an uncanny ability to make hard work look easy. But even the toughest moms struggled with the pressure brought on by the pandemic, not to mention the shift to remote work and virtual learning for the kids. One silver lining? Employers are finally listening to working moms' needs. We asked 12 moms to share their thoughts on the support they’ve received from their employers, and where there's room for improvement. Scroll through to see what they have to say.

Read More: 12 working moms speak up about the benefits they want from employers