Law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has introduced up to 10 free back-up care sessions a year for every London-based employee.
The sessions, which cover childcare, eldercare, dependent adult care and school holiday cover, enable staff to search for and book a qualified nanny, childminder, nursery place or local back-up domiciliary homecare for adult dependents.
The programme, which is provided by My Family Care, also offers staff access to a confidential helpline for practical advice and information on all aspects of parenthood, childcare and eldercare.
Caroline Stroud, global HR partner at Freshfields, said: "Balancing professional and personal responsibilities can be challenging at the best of times and when regular arrangements for care fall through, particularly at the last minute, it can be very stressful.
"In dealing with these situations, having the option of high-quality emergency care provides peace of mind and a solution to fall back on if and when people need it.
"The pace of modern life is putting ever more strain on professionals who try and juggle a successful and rewarding career with spending quality time with family and friends. It is therefore key for employers to make working life as family friendly as possible, be it by offering competitive maternity and paternity benefits, sabbaticals or running family support networks."
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