Harvard University has long been recognized for its commitment to providing an environment for work and study that fosters success through a healthy balance between work and personal life. For three consecutive years, Working Mother Magazine has named Harvard one of the "100 Best" organizations. Currently, it is one of just two Massachusetts employers - and the only university - to be so honored.

To help faculty, prospective faculty (our doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows) and staff balance the demands of work and life while pursuing academic and professional excellence, Harvard offers the following programs and services.

Childcare and family support

• Quality child care is provided for hundreds of children each year through six on-campus Harvard-affiliated child-care centers. Harvard provides operating subsidies of $1.2 million annually to maintain the excellence and stability of these centers while reducing pressure on tuition rates.
• Harvard plans to develop 100 additional child-care slots in the years ahead through measures such as expanding an existing center, developing a new on- or near-campus center, and including child care in Harvard’s longer-term plans for development of its Allston campus. More information will be available in the months to come.
• Harvard awards over $2 million in child-care scholarships annually to faculty and staff based on financial need.

• These funds are awarded directly to employees and are fully transferable - they can be used for the child-care solution that works best for each family.
• Administrative/professional and non-HUCTW clerical and technical staff are invited to apply online now for the 2006-2007 academic year via the Harvard Intranet for Employees (HARVie). An application process for faculty and postdoctoral fellows will be conducted in the fall to award funds that have been earmarked for those groups.

• When regular child care or elder care arrangements fall through, Harvard provides an emergency in-home back-up care program called Parents in a Pinch. Beginning in July 2006, this program will be supplemented with a Back-up Care Advantage Program that will provide Harvard employees with priority access to a broad network of child-care centers and use of their short-term back up slots.
• Harvard offers on-site school vacation camps to provide "gap care" during the weeks at the beginning and end of the summer, as well as during school vacation weeks. Faculty and staff are invited to register now for one of the upcoming camps.
• Also beginning in July, a "Just in Time" program will provide financial assistance to benefits-eligible employees earning less than $55,000 annually for child care provided by family members or programs in their home communities.
• An expansion of the Dependent Care Fund for short-term professional travel will enable junior faculty to receive up to two awards per academic year to finance dependent care travel when attending conferences and professional meetings.
• Harvard staff may use up to 15 days per year of paid sick and personal time to care for ailing children or elders.
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts are provided for qualified dependent care expenses.
• Harvard’s preferred arrangement with American Nanny Company provides Harvard employees and affiliates with reduced rates for nanny selection and placement.
• HARVie now features a Child Care Bulletin Board where members of the Harvard community can share child-care information, recommendations, and referrals.

Maternity leave and adoption assistance

Work/life support

• Harvard’s Office of Work/Life Resources (in Cambridge) and the Office of Work and Family (in Longwood, at Harvard Medical School) provide information and expert referral to address concerns ranging from workplace stress to caring for a young child or an elderly relative. The offices are staffed with work/family specialists, who work in concert with affiliated child care, elder care, and social service providers.
• Through Harvard’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Harvard faculty and staff have access to a wide variety of resources to help with personal challenges, including child and elder care. Harvard’s EAP provides help with new parent transitions, personalized child care or camp referrals, or help navigating the college application process.
• A pilot program of research-enabling grants for junior scholars to support the hiring of additional technical and administrative staff; the purchase of equipment to enable more efficient research; providing management of a research team; or the cost of taking a child and caregiver on extended field work.
• Additional services available to employees and their families include:

• health and wellness;
• financial and retirement planning;
• home-buying, relocation assistance;
• commuting supports and subsidies; and
• employee discounts at major cultural and recreational attractions.

Comprehensive medical benefits

• Harvard provides comprehensive health and dental insurance for employees and their families. On average, these benefits are 83 percent employer paid. Harvard’s size and competitive bidding practices mean that employee premiums and co-payments for office visits remain affordable.
• Employees can choose from several health care providers and health care delivery models. Harvard provides reimbursement for co-payments above an annual cap.
• Part-time employees who work as little as 17.5 hours per week are provided with medical benefits, as are same sex spouses and qualified domestic partners if family coverage is elected.