Sabbaticals and childcare subsidies 'are rising trends for top employers'

The best companies are increasing the amount of paid time off to employees and a growing number are offering subsidised childcare, according to the 2012 Fortune Best Companies to Work For listing.

The best companies are increasing the amount of paid time off to employees and a growing number are offering subsidised childcare, according to the 2012 Fortune Best Companies to Work For listing.

Google tops the US-based list and all the big four global accountancy firms, Pwc, Ernst & Young, Deloitte and KPMG, are in the top 100.

The listing which is prepared by the Great Place to Work Institute says it has noted some trends this year. It says the Best Companies "have been increasing the amount of paid time off provided to employees- through holiday and vacation pay and employee sabbaticals. Employee paid time off increased by one day in 2012. Additionally, 3 more companies on the list now offer paid sabbaticals to their employees. This brings the total number of companies to provide this benefit to 24. While this is still only a quarter of Best Companies, sabbaticals are definitely a trend to keep an eye on."

The institute also notes that an increasing number of companies are offering financial aid to employees adopting children. And more and more companies are also offering domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples. Seventy-three of the Best Companies offer financial aid to those adopting a child, and of those that do, the average amount provided was a little over $5,000. Eighty-nine Best Companies now offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples.

Additionally, there was a big jump in the number of Best Companies subsidising child care. Thirty-five of the companies now offer subsidised care. Retirement benefits is another area that the top companies are paying increasing attention to.

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