That’s a Latte Help: Starbucks Offers Employees Backup Child and Adult Care

Starbucks has sweetened the brew of benefits it’s serving employees.

The java giant announced its Care@Work program, which includes 10 days of subsidized backup care for children and adults through Care.com.

Employees will pay $1 an hour for in-home child or adult care and $5 a day per child for a daycare center.

After using 10 days, employees will pay full cost for all Care.com services, which also include pet-sitting and housekeeping.

All Starbucks employees receive a free Care.com premium membership, worth $147 annually. That membership provides access to caregivers and references, as well as background checks for an additional charge.

Additionally, employees will receive free access to senior care planning, with professional guidance for those navigating long-term caregiving, housing and legal concerns for elderly family members.

The Care@Work program went into effect on Oct. 9 and is available to all employees upon hire.

Starbucks has taken the benefits route in the escalating war for workers. Earlier this year, the baron of baristas announced an expansion of its paid family leave for hourly workers to six weeks for non-birth parents as well as the creation of a sick-time policy that lets employees accrue hours to either be used for personal sick days or to care for family members.

Child care could be a deciding factor for many parents when choosing a job. Over 1,200 parents with children under age 6 responded to a Penny Hoarder survey in July, and 95% of those we surveyed said they felt overwhelmed by the cost of child care.

And elder care benefits are becoming a priority as more than 40 million Americans who provide unpaid elder care, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She covers benefits, invisible jobs and work-from-home opportunities. Read her bio here or catch her on Twitter @TiffanyWendeln.