Dependent Care Benefits

Meaning & Definition

Dependent Care Benefits are provided by companies to help workers take care of family members, such as children, elderly or disabled family members. Finally, employers also provide some form of reimbursement for dependent care services and some degree of flexibility in working conditions to assist employees with balancing work and dependent care responsibilities.

Important features of Dependent Care Benefits

• Assists workers who provide care for others(i.e., family members, children, etc.).
• Boosts work-life balance and decreases stress.
• Promotes employee retention and loyalty.
• Increasing the number of people in the labour force, particularly caregivers.
• Enhances an employer’s brand as a family-oriented environment.

Legal & Regulatory Considerations

While there aren’t any statutory requirements laid down in India for dependent-care benefits, there are some provisions that may provide some indirect support for individuals with dependents (such as facilities under the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961; reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016). The extent of implementation of either of these provisions depends on the policies of the employer.