Abstract :
A new flexibility in the workplace called corporate caretaking is encouraging men and women to work together; influencing policies of government and business; and enriching employee's lives. The rapidly changing demographics of the workforce indicate that typical employees are older, more racially mixed, and more often female. Companies responding to changes are becoming progressively more involved in their employee's work and family issues. In the first stage of that progression, companies accept that workers have family-related problems that affect their work, and attempt to solve specific problems. Second-stage companies confront deeper issues that include eldercare, flexible work schedules, and community partnerships. Firms which have initiated corporate caretaking policies are also profiled.