Back-to-school season is in full swing, and
UrbanSitter, an online service that connects parents to trusted
"After-school care is one of the trickiest types of care to find because you're looking for somebody who is okay working a limited number of hours a week but consistently," says Lynn Perkins, CEO of UrbanSitter. "You're looking for that needle in a haystack, but that kind of schedule doesn't always align with what people are looking for from part-time opportunities."
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Perkins points out college students as an example: They may be a great fit for after-school care, but there may be days of the week when they have afternoon classes. Perkins notes that sometimes parents must find multiple providers to cover all five days.
To make matters harder, more parents commute to an office at least part of the week than did a few years ago. According to UrbanSitter, 42% of parents are hybrid, and 31% are in the office full time. The loss of flexibility makes child care arrangements vital.
"We saw a huge jump in bookings when companies put a mandatory return in place last year," says Perkins. "Before, parents could cover at least some afternoons, but now they need help because they don't have the same availability."
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Perkins recalls one employer partner who rolled out their return-to-office mandates alongside a child care subsidy benefit. "This was really thoughtful, but I've only seen one partner do this with the introduction of return-to-office," she says.
The number-one benefit working parents want is child care stipends, followed by a flexible schedule and a four-day workweek, according to UrbanSitter's survey. Perkins notes that child care stipends and flexibility have made it in the top two since the first iteration of the survey three years ago. In Perkins' experience, backup or emergency child care assistance is especially valuable: If a provider falls through last minute or parents have to deal with a last-minute change of plans, they need to find someone they can trust to care for their kid quickly, explains Perkins.
"About half of our bookings occur within 24 hours of the [appointment]," she says. "When parents realize they need care in the next 24 hours, it's one of the most stressful times for families. That's why backup child care benefits can improve employee stress and productivity and signal to them that their employer has their back."
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A backup child care benefit can help parents identify a new provider within 24 hours and offer a stipend to cover at least some of the costs that come with needing someone at the last minute. Perkins urges benefit leaders to consider not just the upfront costs that come with child care benefits but also the ROI over time. According to the Early Care and Learning Council, child care support can lower absenteeism by 30% and reduce turnover by 60%.
This back-to-school season, Perkins urges employers to rethink how they support working parents and if their current benefits and policies are truly good for business. As for these next few weeks, Perkins asks employers to at least offer working parents a bit of grace as they adjust their schedules.
"Be open about the fact that you understand back-to-school is a tough time," she says. "August and September are always hard on families — give them a little more flexibility."
