A number of your benefits will be supportive of you and your family. These benefits tend to vary from employer, so not all employers will offer these.

Child Care– Employers offer benefits in various ways. These include

• Financial Help- Some employers will help subsidize your daycare,
         especially when you have to stay late to work.
• Guaranteed Slots- Some employers will contract with health care facilities
         for a certain number of slots for their employees.
• On-Site Daycare- Some employers will have on-site daycare facilities. This
          is especially true of employers that have a significant female work force.

Leaves of Absence– All employers with more than 50 employees are required by law to offer you a leave of absence for care of a family member or to be with a new born. Some employers will also offer leaves of absence for educational development opportunities. The question you need to ask about leaves of absence benefits are

• Will health care coverage be extended while you are on leave?
• Will you get service time credit during your leave of absence. Service time
          is important in qualifying for vacation time and other senority- based
          benefits.

Alternative Work Arrangements- Some employers will allow you to arrange work schedules that support your family needs. Some of these include

• Flextime – you can arrange a range of work times. Typically these can
         vary from a 6am-2pm schedule to a 10am-6pm schedule.
• Work at Home- Some employers will equip you with a home office and
          allow work from home. In some cases, where you choose to live will also
          be your option.
• Job Sharing- A few employers will allow you to share a job with another
         person. This is especially helpful when you want time with young
         children or a family member who needs intensive home care.

Adoption Assistance- Some employers will help you with the funding needed to adopt a child.  This is especially true for organizations that have a strong emphasis on family values.

Employee Assistance- This benefit represents a confidential counseling service for dealing with difficult life issues. Typical issues include addictions, marital difficulties, grieving, and family challenges. While your employer pays for this benefit, your employer gets no information on your participation.

For many college graduates, these family support benefits may not seem that important, but over time they will become very important, especially child care..