WORK-LIFE

family & dependent care

table of contents

about the program

what is dependent care?

workplace supports

the value

5 tips for working caregivers

did you know...

Growing numbers of Federal employees, men and women, find 

themselves caring for a child, parent, spouse, other relative, or 

friend. Nearly half of Federal employees report having a child in 

their household, and one in five Federal employees report some 

responsibility for an adult dependent. With so many employees 

having caregiving responsibilities, the Federal Government is 

committed to providing an array of resources and solutions 

to help working caregivers effectively manage their work 

and family responsibilities while maximizing organizational 

performance.

about the program

Family and Dependent Care in the Federal Government
Family and dependent care can look very different depending on 

the circumstances. Caregiving involves many types of assistance, 

including care that requires direct contact (e.g., meal preparation, 

bathing, driving, supervision) and care that does not (e.g., arranging 

for services, coordinating care, handling finances). Resources 

are available to support employees facing a range of care 

responsibilities for family members, friends, or relatives at all stages 

of the life course. 

child care

includes care for 

infants, toddlers, 

school-aged 

children, and 

teenagers 

adult care

includes care for 

adults who require 

assistance due to 

disability, illness, or 

other special needs

elder care

includes care for 

elderly and 

aging adults

What is Family and Dependent 
 Care?
workplace supports 

for family and 

dependent care
flexibility

• Flexible work schedules

• Telework

• Part-time work 

• Job sharing

• Phased retirement 

• Phased return to work

• Leave policies

direct services

• On-site care

• Respite care

• Emergency back-up care

• Nursing rooms

• Breast milk delivery

• Counseling

• Employee assistance program

financial support

• Subsidies for care

• Flexible spending accounts

• Insurance programs

• Discount programs

education & resources

• Seminars

• Support groups

• Employee resource groups

• Resource libraries

• Referrals 

• Toolkits

• Manager and employee training

Just as family and dependent care responsibilities are varied and broad, 

supports for caregivers in the Federal workplace encompass a range of 

policies, benefits, and services that provide flexibility, financial support, 

direct services, and education and resources, including but not limited to 

the examples below.
the value of supporting 

family and dependent care

Family and dependent care supports provide significant benefits for 

Federal agencies, employees, and families.

benefits for agencies

• Increases retention

• Improves recruitment

• Reduces the need for unscheduled leave

• Increases employee engagement

• Improves productivity

benefits for employees and families

• Allows for better work-life integration

• Decreases stress

• Increases flexibility

• Improves concentration at work

• Improves overall health and well-being

• Reduces costs associated with care

• Increases job satisfaction

• Facilitates return-to-work after care-related leave

1

2

tell the boss.

Your success in managing work and life priorities will often depend 

on the support you receive from your supervisor and colleagues. 

If you feel comfortable, let your manager and/or trusted coworkers 

know about your work-life challenges and goals. This conversation 

may foster understanding and could even be a big help to you. 

identify flexibilities you need and ask for them. 

Consider if changing your work schedule, having a flexible schedule, 

or teleworking would help you better manage and integrate your work 

and caregiving responsibilities. Propose solutions to your manager that 

are advantageous to achieving the organization’s goals and your wellbeing, and if your manager seems skeptical, suggest a trial run.

5 tips for working caregivers 
3

4

5

use the employee assistance program.

The EAP not only provides caregivers with valuable services 

and information, it’s also free and confidential. There is an EAP 

Counselor who is waiting to talk to you right now about resources 

related to back-up care, locating quality dependent care, financial 

assistance, and other caregiving topics.

know your rights.

You may be entitled to certain benefits and legal protections. 

For example, all Federal employees have entitlements related to 

sick leave, family and medical leave, protection from pregnancy 

discrimination, nursing at work, and reasonable accommodations for 

short- or long-term disabilities. Your first step should be contacting 

your local human resources office to learn more about benefits 

and protections available to you. The U.S. Office of Personnel 

Management, Department of Labor, and Equal Employment 

Opportunity Commission can also help answer questions about 

your legal rights and discrimination against workers with caregiving 

responsibilities.

take a break.

Time is not a luxury many caregivers have, but it is important to give 

yourself a break, even if it’s a small one. Try closing your eyes and 

taking a few deep breaths, standing up and stretching, or going for a 

walk with a coworker or friend. You deserve it!
did you know...

Workplace supports for 

caregivers can reduce 

absenteeism, improve 

performance, and help retain 

valuable employees.
In recent decades, the 

proportion of men who are 

family caregivers has nearly 

doubled. It is critical for 

coworkers and supervisors 

to create inclusive work 

environments that offer 

support to all caregivers.

More than one 

in six American 

workers are 

caregivers. 

Nearly half of 

middle-aged adults 

have a parent 

65 or older and 

are also caring 

for or financially 

supporting a child. 

60% of working caregivers 

report that they have 

made some workrelated adjustments as a 

result of their caregiving 

responsibilities.
more information

Contact your local HR office to find your agency worklife or dependent care coordinator or search OPM’s 

Work-Life Contact Tool available at: 

https://www.opm.gov/CCLContact/.

Additional information is available at 

www.opm.gov/worklife.