Employee FAQ's

Parents in a Pinch is happy to provide you with excellent, dependable in-home back-up childcare and/or eldercare as one of your employee benefits. Though benefits vary somewhat by company, the information below will give you a general idea of how the program works.

Q: When is it appropriate to call for backup childcare?

• During school vacations, Monday holidays or when daycare is closed
• When your child is a little bit under the weather
• When you have to work late or on weekends
• When your nanny goes on vacation or quits unexpectedly
• Anytime you have a gap in your regularly scheduled childcare arrangements

Q: When is it appropriate to call for backup eldercare?

• When your mother is temporarily housebound and needs short-term companionship.
• When your father needs a ride and a guide to help him through the maze of doctor appointments.
• When your spouse is recuperating at home from surgery and needs some assistance for a day or two.
• While a parent or elder relative is waiting for an opening in an assisted living facility.
• Anytime you have a short term need or a gap in your eldercare arrangements.

Q. When are caregivers available?

Care is available in your home or in the home of your elder dependent during the day or evening, seven days/week. You may call to arrange care during Parents in a Pinch office hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST. You also have access to a customer service representative Sunday – Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EST if you need care on the following day.

Sometimes Parents in a Pinch can locate a caregiver within an hour or two, but the more time you give us, the more likely we can make a perfect match. Twenty-four hour advance notice is usually sufficient.

Q. What is the process for arranging care?

• Call Parents in a Pinch directly at 617-739-5437 or 1-800-688-4697, ext. 2. Give us the name of your company so we can see the specific benefits it offers.
• Parents in a Pinch will locate a caregiver for you who meets your specific requirements. You will receive two confirmations:
      1. Parents in a Pinch will call to tell you about your caregiver. In some instances,
      our childcare or eldercare partner agency will make this telephone call.
      2. The caregiver will call to confirm the date, time and location of the job.
• When care has been completed for the day, sign the timesheet and pay the caregiver directly.

Q. How much do I pay?

Employees pay an hourly fee directly to the caregiver. The fee varies by geographic area, but is generally between $13 and $17 per hour, with a four-hour minimum charge per day. Some companies reimburse employees for all or part of this hourly fee.
Note: Most companies allow employees to use this benefit up to 20 calendar days per year.

Q. What if I need care not related to work?

You are always welcome to use our backup services. If it is not related to work or if you have exceeded your annual limit, you will generally be charged a placement fee (usually $45.00/day) in addition to the caregiver fee. However, some companies do provide support for non-work related backup care.

Q. What if I need to cancel my request for care?

If you cancel once a caregiver has already been reserved for a job, there is a $30.00 cancellation fee that is billed to your credit card. If the caregiver is already en route or has arrived, the fee is $60.

Q. When I call next time, can I get the same caregiver? Can I arrange care directly with her?

Our goal is to have as much consistency in care as possible. We are happy to contact your last caregiver to see if she is available. And yes, you may ask the caregiver if she can return on another day, BUT you must also inform Parents in a Pinch that you are doing so.