Do "Top 100" Companies Offer Eldercare Benefits?

by Blanche S. Katz

As published in John Paul Marosy's "Bringing Elder Care Home" newsletter in May 2007.  See www.bringingeldercarehome.com for more details.

Working Mother Magazine Identifies “Top 100 Companies”

The “Top 100 Companies” for the working mother are determined by an annual survey conducted by Working Mother Magazine and announced each October (www.workingmother.com). This survey lends itself to tracking a trend or two, including identifying which companies provide elder care as a benefit. By examining this survey, one could hope that this special designation would reveal that the elder care benefit is held in as high regard as child care. Not so.

The audience for this magazine is the working mother, who is involved with child care. This same woman may already or will soon face elder care issues. This listing is important for women because they are still the primary caregivers for their elderly loved ones.

One can follow the trend of the past three annual surveys and lists for 2004-2006, as I have in my own way un-scientific, anecdotal and strictly observational. This satisfies my two curiosities about these “Top 100 Companies” which are: How many companies announce elder care as a benefit? and, if so, what is the range of the elder care benefit?

The good news is there is a more than 100 percent increase over the past three years from 10 companies offering eldercare benefits to over 20. The bad news is that 75 percent of the companies on this list do not identify elder care as a distinct benefit.

From a qualitative point of view, it ranges from as little as giving the Elder Care Locator telephone number (800) 677-1116 and website www.eldercare.gov  in the company’s newsletter, to very comprehensive support that includes providing the services of a Geriatric Care Manager, some financial assistance, access to legal advice, and /or even personal care for the elderly loved ones.

The best news of all in 2006 is that all 100 companies have flextime. This varies from being available at the company’s discretion all the way to months off as requested by the employee.

We will continue to use this “Top 100 Companies” survey like a barometer every year adding this information to help complete the picture of the environment for the working mother as we all grow older.

Copyright 2007 by Blanche S. Katz.
For reprint permission, please contact info@blanchekatz.com.