Employers today recognize that supporting their people extends far beyond the workplace. After all, life outside of work is full—and often overwhelming.
It’s also complex, with no two employees navigating the same challenges. Many are caring for aging or ill loved ones. Others are raising young kids, managing physical or mental health needs, facing financial or other personal pressures—or all of the above. And everyone has their own preferences for how they’d like support.
As the line between personal and professional life continues to blur, traditional one-size-fits-all benefits often fall short. So how can employers meaningfully meet their employees where they are?
One benefit, many uses
Flexible, real-world support makes a difference.
Papa connects employees with highly vetted companions, called Papa Pals, who provide in-person support for everyday needs. Each employee gets a bank of hours to use for themselves or a loved one when and how they choose—for help around the house, transportation, errands, technology or pet assistance, companionship, and more.
Take Julie, for example. Julie is a small business owner who not only leads a team, but like many of us, is a member of the “sandwich generation,” caring for both children and aging loved ones. She knows firsthand how hard it is to juggle work and life, and understands how much of a difference even a few hours of help can make.
She and her employees have access to help from Papa through a PPO benefits package, and her mind lit up with all the ways she could use the help. She initially thought she’d use Papa for help running errands, but then went a different direction.
“I used Papa for some light housekeeping and help with gardening,” Julie says. “Next thing I’m going to use it for is meal prep to support a healthy diet and encourage good eating habits with a busy schedule. That seems like a good busy-person application.”
After just a couple of Papa visits, Julie felt the impact—not just in what she got done, but in how she felt.
“It was having that extra hand, having somebody to help so my work went faster,” she says. “I was able to get more accomplished and get more time so I could actually rest a little. I had more time to focus on self-care because I had extra help earlier in the day.”
Why Julie appreciates the Papa benefit as an employer
As a small business owner, attracting and retaining employees is a challenge. Offering medical benefits, and a unique benefit such as Papa, helps Julie compete in today’s talent market.
“It’s unique. It’s creative. It helps show you understand the lives of your employees,” Julie says of the Papa benefit. “Everybody talks about mental health, but this really helps take some of the stress out of daily life so that employees can focus on their job. It lets them know there is help; there are resources available.”
Julie encourages her team to use the benefit in whatever way works for them—sharing her own experience and reminding them that help is available.
And she’s not alone. Employers across the country are turning to Papa to offer high-impact support that meets their workforces’ wide-ranging needs at scale.
The bottom line: Flexible help that works
Employees are at their best when they feel supported. They’re more focused, productive, and engaged when they’re not bogged down by responsibilities at home. Papa helps business owners show their employees that they see them, care about them, and are willing to invest in what matters most: their well-being.
Because a little help goes a long way.
