Boston Consulting Group Canada is supporting employees with caregiving responsibilities through an employee network and benefits offerings.
The employer’s Families@BCG network has grown to more than 150 employees, both parents and non-parents, who share childcare tips and discuss topics such as managing work and family. In addition to the network, the employer offers parental coaching support for before and after taking a leave of absence and a buddy program that connects employees with someone who has been through a similar experience.
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Nina Abdelmessih, BCG Canada’s chief of operations and external relations, says employees report feeling less alone as a result of this support. “These programs came from listening to our people. Even when policies exist, navigating a leave or returning to work can feel isolating.”
Through BCG Canada’s parental leave program, birth parents receive 26 weeks of parental leave top-up pay at 100 per cent of salary, while non-birth parents/adoptive parents receive 14 weeks. It also provides up to an additional four weeks for adoptive parents who are required to travel and remain in their child’s birth country for a period of time.
The company’s paid family care leave program offers up to eight weeks of leave at full salary to support employees caring for critically ill or injured family members. BCG Canada also supports caregivers through programs such as backup in-home care and tutoring support for eligible dependents.
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“These programs help employees balance work and family life,” says Abdelmessih. “They give people the support they need to take leave, return to work or care for family members while staying connected to their careers.”
The company reports strong employee utilization of these programs, particularly the parental leave coaching support, she adds. “One employee shared, ‘I felt like it addressed some of the underlying root causes of my challenges as a parent with sustainability, instead of just being a band-aid for symptoms.’”
Caregiving support fits into BCG Canada’s wider well-being strategy by understanding employees go through different life stages and meeting workers where they are.
“Support is structured to meet employees across those stages, whether they are preparing for leave, taking time away, returning to work, managing ongoing caregiving responsibilities or navigating mid-life health needs,” notes Abdelmessih.
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