Companies Improve Morale
By Offering Eldercare Assistance

Oak Brook, IL (February, 2004) — New research shows employers will continue to offer eldercare assistance to employees in 2004. Companies cite resource and referral services as the most popular program for helping employees care for elderly relatives. Many companies identify “improved morale” as a primary reason for offering these services.

According to the “Eldercare Survey,” conducted by Employee Services Management (ESM) Association, 46 percent of companies offer programs that address employees’ eldercare issues. Of this group, 19 percent plan to improve upon these services in the next year. Of those companies without plans for improvement, 71 percent say they will retain their existing eldercare services.

The most common program offered is eldercare resource and referral services (61 percent), with which companies provide information on eldercare support groups and literature from private, state and federal agencies and organizations.

The second most popular offering is Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) with eldercare services (56 percent). Oftentimes, employees contact an EAP counselor to discuss their care-giving situations, identify current problems and develop plans of intervention.

TOP FIVE ELDERCARE SERVICES COMPANIES OFFER
61 percent: Eldercare Resource & Referral Services
56 percent: Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) With Eldercare Services
45 percent: Eldercare Seminars
44 percent: Eldercare Resource Materials (i.e. books, videos)
35 percent: Long-Term Care Insurance for Eldercare Use

Of those companies currently offering eldercare services, 52 percent say they do so to improve morale, while 48 percent say they offer these services to enhance the company’s image as an employer of choice. Forty-four percent of companies offer eldercare services to fulfill employees’ requests and another 44 percent say they offer these services because their employee demographics reflect an aging workforce.

The online survey was developed by ESM Association, an employee services organization that serves as an information and product/service network for over 2,000 members nationwide. The survey includes responses from 199 ESM Association Members responsible for implementing and maintaining a diverse range of employee services and work/life programs. The online survey is one of ESM Association’s member services. Members receive the complete survey results at no cost and use this information to benchmark with peers and justify new programs to management.

For more information about ESM Association or eldercare assistance for employees, visit http://www.esmassn.org or contact ESM Association at esmahq@esmassn.org or (630) 368-1280.

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About ESM Association:
ESM Association is a national nonprofit association that has helped employee services providers perform their jobs better for over 60 years. Employee services providers typically work in the human resource departments of organizations. They are responsible for managing employee services, including recreation programs, community services, recognition programs, event planning, childcare/eldercare services, convenience services, and travel offerings. ESM Association exists to enhance the employee services profession through education, peer networking and discounts on products and services. For more information, visit http://www.esmassn.org.

©2001, Employee Services Management Association