Lifecare.com
From a Price Waterhouse Coopers survey in 2000,
Another survey conducted by High Hopes, Little Trust in 1999 found that
As work is becoming an increasingly integral aspect to our lives, companies are attempting to find solutions to balance work-life concerns. In fact, the more innovative companies, the "employers of choice", are developing creative ideas to compensating employees for their work commitment, such as alternate work arrangements, increasing use of ESOP´s as part of the compensation package, innovative retirement/benefits plans, Stay for Pay Plans, etc.
This week, HR.com takes a look at a website that offers employees services and solutions to developing a work-life balance. It has also been given by CIO Magazine the CIO Web Business 50/50 award. This award is given to companies who have "significantly improved business practices and efficiencies through the use of innovative Internet technology."
Lifecare.com is a website that offers numerous features and services to help your employees manage their work lives and their family lives. One of the services provided by Lifecare that received the CIO Magazine award is called Lifecare Net. Lifecare Net is a pioneer service that integrated work/life services delivery with the power of the Internet. Lifecare provides the following example,
"When employees visit LifeCare Net''s Child Care Community, they can search for providers from DCC''s database of nearly four million providers nationwide (and receive maps and directions); access educational materials on child care; and learn about their company''s benefits applicable to child care (dependent care spending account, subsidized backup care program, family leave, etc.).
Some of the features that they offer include:
Their educational services include online information resources and seminars that cover the spectrum of major life events.
Under the education section, you can get information and services on Daily Life needs such as home improvement, cleaning services, communication, and self-help. For example, Lifecare´s education information covers the following topics:
Health and Wellness
Family
Emotional Well-being
Education
Work
Financial/Legal
Their concierge services are can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Lifecare´s professionally trained and university educated call center staff. Some of their concierge services include:
Travel services - airline & hotel reservations, transportation,
Convenience/Errand Services - dry cleaning, tailoring, grocery delivery
Entertainment - theatre & concert tickets, catering, sports events
Home services - landscaping, meal services, car services.
Lifecare also offers consulting services and has developed a training center to coincide and complement implementing your work-life balance initiatives.
One of the most useful aspects to their site is their library of online information resources.
The resources in their library are rather sparse. However, the articles and research papers they have posted are important ones. For example, they have the full version of the William M. Mercer Work/Life and Diversity Initiatives Benchmarking Survey 1996. This is an extremely useful resource as it provides all the basic information regarding the effectiveness and popularity of certain work/life balance initiatives commonly used such as flexible scheduling, childcare benefits, elder care, multiculturalism, and emerging employee conveniences. Although the study is slightly dated (from 1996), many of the trends highlighted in the report are presently and increasingly being implemented.
I was unable to find a more recent report by quickly perusing the Mercer site as their search function was down. However, many of their main research reports cost approximately $500.
I have to admit that I find most newsletters to be a bother and of little information value. Lifecare´s Quarterly Newsletters are informative and are of some value offering readers tips and useful general information regarding up-to-date news, HR-related topics, highlight related products and services. They tend to be on the promotional side oft-mentioning DCC and its new products or services.
Pricing
LifeCare.com''s work/life services are priced on a per-employee, per-year basis and pricing models vary depending on the size of the company and the types of services provided. As a rule, prices for employers choosing only online services range from $5 to $8 per employee per year. For employers choosing LifeCare.com''s full range of services (telephonic as well as online), the price ranges from $13 to $25 per year per employee. Employers, not the employees, pay for LifeCare.com services and the company does not charge each time an employee uses a service.
Lifecare is in the process of developing a website to better offer and promote their services. This is the perfect medium through which to offer these products and services as it is an extremely cost-effective and efficient method to do so. Now instead of Lifecare representatives being at the forefront of their service selection to Lifecare clients, clients will be able to use the Internet to facilitate their decision making process.
The website launch was intended for the end of the Summer of 2000 and we should be seeing their new site in the very near future.
1) They provide global information and resources on worldwide companies and government agencies, and not simply North American resources. Lifecare has started development on its website which indicates their commitment to extending their services scope and integration of new information and resources.
2) Their representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What better service can be provided?
3) In June of 2000, Lifecare announced receiving $65 million in first round venture capital financing from General Atlantic Partners and First Union Capital Partners. Since 1984, Lifecare has already established itself within the services provider industry. Therefore, they have a long history of services provision and are using the Internet to facilitate and improve their business.
4) Lifecare has the ability to connect employees to over 1,100 companies and service providers. Therefore, their diverse and broad range of numerous contacts differentiates their business from other providers.
LifeCare.comSM (formerly DCC ®), a pioneer and leader in work and life services since 1984, provides employees with comprehensive work and life information and resources. LifeCare.com helps organizations address strategic issues such as workplace productivity, recruitment, retention, and employee commitment. Our full range of services help organizations establish vital partnerships with their employees and further align human resource and benefits initiatives with their organization´s business objectives.
P.O. Box 2783
Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 226-2680
Fax: (203) 291-3571
E-Mail: info[at]lifecare.com