Chobani’s Care for Caregivers: Stipends and Backup Care Partnership

Yogurt-maker Chobani implemented a new program in 2023 that provides full-time employees with an annual childcare cash stipend and access to backup childcare days through a partnership with care-provider network, Upwards.

Chobani, which has many factories, including in Twin Falls, Idaho, and upstate New York, found through employee listening sessions that affordable, quality childcare was a top concern for its workforce. Many of Chobani’s employees are parents working shifts in production lines or distribution. Approximately two-thirds of Chobani’s employees are hourly manufacturing workers with non-traditional schedules, often outside the typical 9-to-5. Traditional childcare centers frequently fail to accommodate these hours or are unavailable in rural areas, creating barriers to consistent work attendance.

In mid-2023, Chobani announced a partnership with WeeCare, a nationwide childcare network, to introduce an innovative childcare offering for its employees. The program provided full-time Chobani employees with a certain number of backup care days (e.g., up to 10 days a year) that are prepaid by Chobani via the WeeCare network. Meaning that in cases where regular care falls through, or an unexpected need arises, employees can contact WeeCare and arrange care. The program also provides employees a $1,200 cash stipend per year that can be used towards ongoing childcare or eldercare expenses. Employees can use this for whatever care fits their needs—paying their daycare tuition, offsetting the cost of a babysitter, or even an after-school program. Notably, WeeCare’s platform service supports multiple languages. This is important since a large portion of Chobani’s factory workers are immigrants and refugees.

• Gauge employee needs First: Chobani’s strategy came from listening sessions with employees to pinpoint what kind of help they needed.
• Find a capable partner: Consider partnering with a childcare benefits platform or network (Upwards, Bright Horizons, Care.com, etc.) to administer the program.
• Ensure accessibility: If your workforce includes non-English speakers or others who might shy away from bureaucracy, make it user-friendly. Leverage your partner, like Upwards' multilingual platform.