Childcare benefits provided in hybrid office by companies: Report

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With hybrid workplaces becoming all the more prevalent, organisations are adopting an integrated approach to childcare benefits. In addition to that, these benefits are being made gender neutral as well, according to The Times of India report. The benefits under the integrated childcare would include offering flexibility to employees to opt for a mix of day care centres and creches from anywhere, virtual care support, childminders and nanny support. Prior to the pandemic, not many choices were available to employees in choosing a mix of childcare benefits.

But with employees returning to work in a hybrid environment, that requires them to work in office on some days, and some from home, a mix of such benefits is required for them to manage work and childcare at the same time.

According to a recent insights from a childcare-parental benefit survey of 54 companies by ProEves across industries, 85% of the companies are offering physical day care and it continues to be the most prevalent childcare benefit. Post-pandemic, however, virtual day care centers gained popularity as physical day centres were not fully operational.

Virtual care includes, childcare in the form of expert-led online camps, pre-school classes. This form of care is being adopted by 65% of companies, with IT, ITES and BFSI companies being the leading adopters of such benefits, the report said.

As per the survey, online kids engagement is being offered by 46%, one-to-one child minders by 43% and nanny care by 13% of the organisations.

Flexi-Return, the new norm in hybrid office

HSBC India was the first company to introduce childcare benefits like creches for new mothers, virtual care and nanny care to help them balance work and caregiving in 2020.

According to ProEves, Flexi-Return is the most prevalent return to work plan, with 72% companies calling employees for two or three days a week. Parents can choose for flexi-working along with flexible child care benefits.

PepsiCo India is also offering childcare benefits, like parent coaches for new parents, summer camps for younger children, skill camps for older children and child minders for 1:1 attention.