--- title: 5 Fast Facts for HR Thought Leaders - UrbanSitter description: Get in the know with these quick HR industry facts for Q4 2021 and make the transition back into the workplace more smooth for your clients. image: https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/support-working-parents.jpg --- ![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/support-working-parents.jpg) ## Get in the know with these quick HR industry facts to kick off Q4 2021.  ![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Fast-Fact-Numbers-01-150x150.png?width=150&height=150&name=Fast-Fact-Numbers-01-150x150.png) #### Employers aggressively leveraging benefits A new report from Gallagher finds that 41% of surveyed employers said they’ve **added more or different voluntary benefits** to meet recruitment and retention objectives this year.  ---   ![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Fast-Fact-Numbers-02-150x150.png?width=150&height=150&name=Fast-Fact-Numbers-02-150x150.png) ### Half of employers changing return to office plans As of September, more than half of U.S. employers say they are **rethinking their return-to-work timing** amid the Delta variant, which is responsible for the latest COVID surge, according to new data from the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. ---   ![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Fast-Fact-Numbers-03-150x150.png?width=150&height=150&name=Fast-Fact-Numbers-03-150x150.png) ### Companies accommodating working parents Nearly all companies in [a recent survey of over 500 employers by Willis Towers Watson](https://www.willistowerswatson.com/en-US/Insights/2020/09/supporting-employees-with-young-and-school-aged-children-survey) say they’re offering working parents the ability to work **flexible hours**. About 76% also allow employees to work** fewer hours**, and about 10% of employers **maintain pay and benefits**.  About 30% offer [**access to backup child-care services**](https://blog.urbansitter.com/one-medical-case-study-reliable-backup-child-care-for-frontline-workers/), and another 30% plan to or will consider rolling out this benefit to employees.  ---   ![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Fast-Fact-Numbers-04-150x150.png?width=150&height=150&name=Fast-Fact-Numbers-04-150x150.png) ### Employment among women hits a 33-year-low Although women make up less than half of the U.S. workforce, they accounted for a **majority of the decrease in the labor force **during the pandemic. Data from the [Pew Research Center showed](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/14/u-s-labor-market-inches-back-from-the-covid-19-shock-but-recovery-is-far-from-complete/) that between February 2020 and February 2021, 2.4 million women left the workforce, compared with 1.8 million men. One of the most significant barriers for working parents is the **lack of access to affordable child care**. Only 39% of respondents to [McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey](https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/covid-response-center/inclusive-economy/unequal-america-ten-insights-on-the-state-of-economic-opportunity) who have incomes below $50,000 and children at home said they could afford child care. ---   ![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Fast-Fact-Numbers-05-150x150.png?width=150&height=150&name=Fast-Fact-Numbers-05-150x150.png) ### Last, but not least The word “boss” comes from the Dutch word “[baas](http://www.happyworker.com/bossman/facts#.X238J2hKhPY),” the standard title for the captain of a ship. Now you know. ---   It’s the perfect time to add **a caregiving benefit** to [help support caregiver employees](https://blog.urbansitter.com/5-ways-for-employers-to-support-working-parents-now-and-post-pandemic/) as they transition back into the office. To find out more about UrbanSitter’s Corporate Care Program, visit our [website](https://www.urbansitter.com/corporate-benefits). ![20180228_URBANSITTER_SHOT_06_046_retouched-e1645515838811-500x500](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20180228_URBANSITTER_SHOT_06_046_retouched-e1645515838811-500x500.jpg?width=231&height=231&name=20180228_URBANSITTER_SHOT_06_046_retouched-e1645515838811-500x500.jpg) ### **Introducing UrbanSitter's Corporate Care Program** Give your employees the caregiving benefit they deserve. [ Learn more](https://www.urbansitter.com/corporate-benefits) ### Recent Posts: [![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8.png) ](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/in-home-child-care-vs-center-based-child-care-benefits) ### [In Home Child Care vs. Center Based Child Care Benefits: The Pros & Cons](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/in-home-child-care-vs-center-based-child-care-benefits) Searching for the right child care benefit for your employees? Odds are you’re considering either a center based or in home benefit solution. What are the pros... [Read More **](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/in-home-child-care-vs-center-based-child-care-benefits) [![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Happy-businesswoman.png) ](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/child-care-benefits-have-a-big-impact-on-working-parent-loyalty) ### [Child Care Benefits Have a Big Impact on Working Parent Loyalty](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/child-care-benefits-have-a-big-impact-on-working-parent-loyalty) UrbanSitter’s 2025 Working Parents & Child Care Study included a survey of more than 500 working parents focused on working parents and child care issues. One of... [Read More **](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/child-care-benefits-have-a-big-impact-on-working-parent-loyalty) [![](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Nanny-Child-Care-Benefits.png) ](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/what-to-include-in-a-child-care-benefit) ### [What to Include in a Child Care Benefit](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/what-to-include-in-a-child-care-benefit) Wondering what to include in a child care benefit for your employees? UrbanSitter [surveyed working parents](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/working-parents-child-care-report) across the U.S. and asked specifically what types of... [Read More **](https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/what-to-include-in-a-child-care-benefit) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=2806012&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "UrbanSitter Staff", "url" : "https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/author/urbansitter-staff" }, "dateModified" : "2025-03-06T19:24:59.441Z", "datePublished" : "2021-10-05T08:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "5 Fast Facts for HR Thought Leaders - UrbanSitter", "image" : [ "https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/support-working-parents.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://benefits.urbansitter.com/blog/5-fast-facts-for-hr-thought-leaders", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://benefits.urbansitter.com/hubfs/urbansitter%20logo%20color-1.png" }, "name" : "UrbanSitter" } } ```