Navigating life’s unexpected challenges just became easier for university faculty and staff. The university has partnered with Bright Horizons to provide services and resources designed to provide comprehensive support for managing personal and family responsibilities.
The newly expanded Backup Child, Adult, and In-home Care Resources offers eligible employees up to 15 days of annual backup care for children, adults, elder relatives and even themselves.
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Rich Holcomb, associate vice president for human resources, also highlighted the university’s commitment to nurturing a supportive work environment.
“Caring for our people is fundamental to U-M’s mission. Life can present unexpected challenges, and dependable support during those times is essential,” Holcomb said. “By offering a broader network of resources we can help our faculty and staff prioritize what truly matters both at work and at home.”
Christine Snyder, director of child and family care, expressed enthusiasm about the broader reach of the program.
“We are thrilled to extend these valuable services beyond just backup child care, making them accessible for a wider range of needs,” Snyder said. “This expansion means more faculty and staff can benefit from the support, empowering them to tackle various life demands while knowing they have additional resources to rely on.”
Eligible faculty and staff may access subsidized care options, regardless of household income. Rates are $15 per child per day or $25 per family per day for center-based child care, and $8 an hour for in-home child or adult care. This includes support for adult and elder relatives at home, as well as self-care support.
The university covers the premium membership to Sittercity, giving employees access to find babysitters, housekeepers and pet-care providers. When using Sittercity, faculty and staff are responsible for finding and paying for support services. Backup Care credits cannot be applied to Sittercity or Enhanced Family Supports.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to register for the expanded services now to take advantage of all the support options available. Services can be accessed through a custom U-M/Bright Horizons website, a convenient mobile app, and 24-hour phone support for reservations and questions.
