Earlier this month, the Business Record published a story through our Fearless initiative about how more companies are offering caregiving benefits in an attempt to attract and retain employees. 

These benefits include child care, elder care and mental health services. 

In the Nov. 29 edition of the Fearless newsletter, I asked companies who have added caregiving benefits or plan to add them to reach out my way.

Two people responded: 

Kate Banasiak, president and CEO of Diversified Management Services, said her company is in the midst of a pilot program that gives employees access to temporary babysitters through Iowa Elite Nannies, as well as a credit for reimbursement.

Iowa Elite Nannies has a “sitter club,” which offers services on an as-needed basis – something that parents may need when day cares close unexpectedly, or when their kids are sick. 

“We’re a small [business] in the nonprofit world, so while we can’t currently subsidize child care, we did feel like a $300 credit plus the access to good, quality child care would be a really good start to helping,” Banasiak said. 

Emily Toribio, corporate outreach and communications manager for Fareway Stores Inc., said that in October, Fareway announced an enhancement to its dependent care reimbursement. 

The grocery store chain offers its full-time employees a Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, also known as a dependent care flex spending account, with a yearly contribution limit of $5,000. The funds in the account, which are set aside on a pretax basis, are available to spend on children under the age of 13 or on the care of dependent adults who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves. 

Historically, the account has only been funded by employees, Toribo said, but in 2022, Fareway will contribute up to $1,000 toward the account, matching $1 for every $4 contributed by the employee. 

Since the announcement of the enhancement, participation has more than doubled from 2021 to 2022, Toribo said. 

As of October of this year, women are still 2.9 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels, while men are still 2.1 million below. 

While businesses and organizations consider how they recruit and retain today’s workforce, leaders across the nation have made clear that the economy won’t fully recover unless women can fully participate. 

Dawn Oliver Wiand, executive director of the Iowa Women’s Foundation said earlier this year that in order for women to be able to participate in the workforce, family-friendly policies, access to quality, affordable child care and work flexibility is essential. 

Has your business or organization expanded its benefits offerings to include caregiving? Let us know!