Care@Work

banner with care.com logo, photos of dogs being walked, elder care, and a child

Finding the right kind of care for your family, pets, and your home can be challenging. Cornell now provides free unlimited Care.com membership to help you locate and arrange care -- see eligibility and details below.

Note: Care.com is an open marketplace and care providers are not endorsed by Cornell. Members are expected to screen care providers, conduct background checks, and follow other safety best practices. Visit Care.com’s Hiring Recommendations and Safety Center to learn more. Email CareBenefits@care.com with questions or concerns.

About

FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible for free membership to Care.com?

Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, retirees, and postdoc associates
Graduate and professional students

How do I identify myself as a Cornell eligible participant?

Use the Cornell specific portal, http://cornell.care.com to enroll.

You will need your Cornell ID number (located on your student, employee, or retiree identification card) -- do not enter any zeros that may be at the beginning of your ID number.

Note: Cornell University prohibits using your netID password on websites such as Care.com. Create a password that is different from your netID password.

I already have a Care.com account. What do I do?

Visit http://cornell.care.com and click on “Enroll Now.” You’ll be asked whether you have an existing membership. Select “Yes” and proceed with log-in. Contact Member Care at 1-855-781-1303 ext. 1 regarding reimbursement of unused paid time on your previous membership.

Is support available for those with disabilities?

Care.com is improving the accessibility of their platforms. Until they are fully accessible (expected in early 2019), Cornell members may call 1-855-781-1303 ext. 2 to receive help with navigating the directory or posting a position or profile.

If you are seeking a care provider for someone who has a disability or special needs, you or the Care.com representative will be able to narrow your caregiver search based on this criteria.

What safety measures are in place?

The Care.com Membership service is a do-it-yourself hiring marketplace where families find individual in-home caregivers and individual caregivers find jobs. Care.com performs a preliminary screening of those caregivers, including manual profile review and checks against a database of various available electronic criminal records and the National Sex Offender Public Website. The site also provides families with an array of resources to make safer hiring decisions, including three tiers of background checks you can purchase easily from the site.

The Care.com Membership service also includes a directory of care businesses, like childcare centers. It is important to note that these are simply directory listings that are not vetted by Care.com (as noted on the business profiles). We recommend that families confirm licensing and the appropriateness of a given center for their child.

Please visit the Care.com Safety Center for tools and resources about safety.

Note: Cornell does not screen, manage, or endorse individuals listed on Care.com. Cornell is not responsible for, and will be held harmless against, any liabilities, damages, expenses, causes of action, claims, or demands of any nature whatsoever, including any claims of negligence arising from or related in any manner to the use of Care.com. Care.com maintains its own Terms of Use which members are asked to review and agree to.

How much do the providers charge?

Rate of pay is negotiated between the caregiver and the hiring individual. Care.com offers a Babysitter Calculator, however rate of pay may be influenced by duties, certifications, and other factors. Cornell offers a Guide to Hiring Informal Care Providers that may be useful.

I am available to provide these services. How do I create a profile?

Creating a profile is easy and free! Visit Care.com to get started. Members must be at least 14 years of age and permitted to work in the United States.

You will be asked if you are affiliated with a university and if so, the name. By including this information, you will appear in search results when those seeking care search by school.

I used the Cornell Family Helper List. How is this different?

Care.com replaced the Cornell Family Helper List (FHL) to better meet the needs of Cornell employees and graduate students.

The FHL list was established to help employees find caregivers. While it evolved over time, the list was Ithaca-based, limited, and did not serve those outside of Ithaca or those who are long-distance caregivers. Demand continued to exceeded availability and with the evolution of technology, new platforms with useful features become available.

What happens if I leave, graduate, or am no longer benefits-eligible?

Cornell regularly provides a list of eligible members to Care.com. Your free membership ends within a week of your Cornell affiliation ending. At log-in you will be informed that your free access has ended and you will be offered fee-based options for continuation with your existing account.