Sharp Hospital: Childcare Benefits For Employees

Sharp HealthCare offers a range of benefits to its employees, including retirement plans, insurance, paid leave, and wellness programs. While the company does not have an on-site daycare facility, it does provide family care benefits through its partnership with Care for Business. This allows employees to find vetted caregivers for their children, adults, pets, and tutoring services. Sharp's multiple locations across San Diego present a challenge for providing a single daycare center, so the company opted for a flexible solution that gives employees access to care where they need it.

Sharp HealthCare's partnership with Care for Business

Sharp Healthcare, San Diego's largest integrated health system, has demonstrated its commitment to community enhancement and accessible healthcare through various partnerships and initiatives. Notably, Sharp Healthcare's partnership with Care for Business exemplifies this dedication by providing comprehensive support for frontline employees and their families.

Recognizing the challenges faced by working parents, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharp Healthcare sought creative solutions to address childcare needs. Instead of opting for an on-site daycare facility, which would only cater to employees with children in one location, Sharp partnered with Care for Business to offer a more flexible and inclusive option. Through this partnership, Sharp employees gained unlimited access to the Care Membership and Backup Care benefits.

The Care Membership empowers employees to find vetted caregivers not only for children but also for adults, pets, housekeeping, and tutoring services. This proved invaluable during the pandemic when children attended school remotely, and many households were self-isolating. The Backup Care benefit further ensured that Sharp staff had an employer-subsidized solution for unexpected care needs, even allowing them to utilize their personal networks.

In just six months, the Backup Care program saved Sharp doctors, nurses, and staff more than 4,500 days of missed work, demonstrating a significant return on investment. Moreover, the positive feedback from employees and the impact on talent retention reinforce the success of the partnership. By showing up for their caregivers when they needed it most, Sharp Healthcare has positioned itself as an employer of choice, attracting a steady stream of new applicants.

In addition to its collaboration with Care for Business, Sharp Healthcare has also formed strategic alliances with other organizations. For example, Sharp's partnership with San Diego FC (SDFC) showcases a shared commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and enhancing community spaces. Through this alliance, Sharp provides world-class medical services and wellness programs to support athletes, staff, and fans, while also collaborating on initiatives like the mini-pitch project to provide safe and accessible areas for local youth to play soccer.

Care Membership and Backup Care

Sharp HealthCare recognizes the importance of employee benefits in ensuring the health and financial security of its staff and their families. In line with this, they offer a range of benefits, including the Care Membership and Backup Care.

The Care Membership addresses the challenge of finding appropriate childcare, which is especially difficult for working parents in healthcare who need to be on-site every day. With the Care Membership, Sharp HealthCare employees can find a vetted caregiver for children, adults, pets, housekeeping, and tutors. This was particularly helpful during the pandemic when children were forced to attend school remotely.

The Backup Care benefit provides an employer-subsidized solution for Sharp HealthCare staff to find flexible, vetted care, including the option to use someone in their personal network. This is crucial when an employee's regular care arrangement falls through, preventing them from coming into work. The utilization of this benefit has resulted in a significant reduction in missed workdays, with doctors, nurses, and staff saving more than 4,500 workdays in just six months.

In addition to the Care Membership and Backup Care, Sharp HealthCare offers a holistic package of benefits. These include career mobility, fully funded educational programs, medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance, and a generous paid leave policy. New employees start with 25 days of paid time off in their first year, along with access to wellness programs such as healthy cafeteria options, free yoga classes, and health coaches.

Paid leave

Sharp HealthCare offers a range of benefits to its employees, including a generous paid leave policy. The organisation understands that employees may need time off for various reasons, such as rest and relaxation or dealing with temporary illnesses or injuries.

The paid leave plan at Sharp provides replacement income for employees who need time off. This income serves as financial support during periods of leave, ensuring that employees can focus on their well-being or the well-being of their family members without worrying about lost wages.

New employees at Sharp start with 25 days of paid time off in their first year, which is a significant benefit compared to many other employers. This paid time off can be used for various purposes, including vacations, rest, and recovery from illnesses or injuries.

Additionally, Sharp offers a Backup Care benefit, which provides employees with access to vetted, flexible care options. This benefit is particularly useful for employees with caregiving responsibilities, such as those with children, elderly family members, or pets. The Backup Care program ensures that employees can find reliable care solutions, preventing missed workdays due to caregiving issues.

Sharp also provides employee assistance programs that offer free and confidential support through counselling, wellness education, and referrals to community resources. These programs promote overall well-being and help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Overall, Sharp HealthCare's paid leave and support programs demonstrate a commitment to the health and financial security of its employees and their families. By offering competitive benefits, Sharp attracts and retains top talent, fostering a supportive and productive work environment.

Childcare options during the pandemic

During the pandemic, hospitals faced the challenge of ensuring their staff could come to work while also caring for their families. With schools and daycares closed and many households self-isolating, healthcare workers with children at home needed access to childcare.

Sharp Healthcare, with multiple locations across San Diego County, chose not to provide an on-site daycare facility. Instead, they partnered with Care for Business to give employees unlimited access to the Care Membership and Backup Care. This allowed staff to find a vetted, flexible caregiver for their children, adults, or pets, as well as access to tutors, which was crucial as children were forced to attend school remotely.

The Backup Care benefit meant that Sharp staff had an employer-subsidized solution to finding care. This saved doctors, nurses, and staff more than 4,500 days of missed work in just six months and proved to be a valuable tool in retaining top talent during the pandemic.

In addition to care benefits, Sharp Healthcare offers a range of other employee benefits, including a generous paid leave policy, wellness programs, and insurance options. New employees start with 25 days of paid time off in their first year, and Sharp also provides free, confidential support through counseling, wellness education, and referrals to community resources.

Sharp's benefits program is designed to support the health and financial security of its employees and their families, offering flexibility and comprehensive support for their team members.

Other employee benefits

Sharp HealthCare offers a range of employee benefits to support the health and financial security of its staff and their families. Firstly, Sharp provides a generous paid leave policy, with new employees receiving 25 days of paid time off in their first year. This includes replacement income while employees take time off for rest or to care for a family member recovering from an illness or injury.

Secondly, Sharp offers a comprehensive wellness program called Sharp Best Health. This includes online tools, interactive workshops, health coaching, and healthy cafeteria options, such as free yoga classes, to help employees reach their wellness goals.

Thirdly, Sharp provides two retirement plans: the Sharp$aver 401(a) plan, which matches after-tax contributions, and the 403(b) plan, offering pre-tax and Roth contributions. Both plans provide access to educational seminars and financial planners to assist employees in shaping their retirement strategies.

Finally, Sharp offers a flexible benefits package that can be tailored to individual needs. This includes medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance, as well as accident insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance. Additionally, Sharp has partnered with Care for Business to provide employees with access to the Care Membership and Backup Care, offering vetted caregivers for children, adults, and pets. This partnership ensures that employees can find care where they need it, rather than being restricted to a single onsite location.

Frequently asked questions