About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Care.com Reports August is Peak Season for Finding Back-to-School Care

By: via Business Wire

– Parents also want Homework/Curriculum Support and will pay more for it –

As we approach another hectic back-to-school season, many parents are facing an added stressor this fall – return to offices and hybrid work – that is forcing them to adjust their childcare arrangements. Care.com analyzed last year’s back-to-school childcare hiring trends to identify key dates and trends that might help families streamline and more successfully navigate the hiring process.

“Return to in-person jobs and reconfigured hybrid schedules will cause major rifts in parents’ current childcare plans,” said Maressa Brown, Senior Editor, Care.com. “Families may need to interview and hire multiple caregivers to fill gaps in their weekly schedules, making planning and flexibility key this year. We know parents across the country are facing the same challenge and are looking for tips on how to get ahead of the demand.”

Trends and Key Dates

August 2021 was the peak month on Care.com for the majority (65%) of families looking for back-to-school care, with August 23rd being the most popular day to post back-to-school jobs. Back-to-school caregivers got out ahead of the demand in 2021 with more posting their profiles on August 9th than on any other day during the month.

On average, across the U.S. last year, parents posted their back-to-school jobs approximately 22 days before the expected start date. Since the school year resumes at different times in different regions of the country, key dates for back-to-school care searches varied. In 2021 the most popular dates to post back-to-school jobs by region were: August 1st/Midwest; August 10th/West and South; and August 23rd/Northeast.*

Parents want Homework/Curriculum Support and will pay more for it

From 2019-2021, Care.com found that the start of the school year also drove a spike in interest in homework or curriculum help. More than one-third (34%) of parents looking for back-to-school care specified these functions last year, with these job posts spiking in August and September. Care.com is already seeing a similar trend emerging this month.

And, despite the high cost of care, parents are willing to pay even more for additional help with schoolwork. In 2021, on average parents offered to pay 2% more/hour for these services, or an average of $18.02/hr vs. $17.66/hr.

Optimizing the search for back-to-school help

In addition to noting the key dates related to finding back-to-school care, families can streamline the process by following these steps:

  • Figure Out Your Fall Work Schedule: Take a close look at your weekly schedule to identify exactly when you’ll need care throughout the week. Understanding your care gaps will help determine if you’ll need a nanny, after-school help, a sitter, or a combination of caregivers.
  • Determine Your Budget: Different types of care cost different amounts. Find out what you can afford and know what the going rates are in your area by accessing this calculator.
  • Identify Your Needs: Before starting your search, know exactly what skills you’d like your caregiver to have and the responsibilities she’ll handle. Many babysitters and nannies may be willing to negotiate “add-ons” to their role. Examples might include tutoring, walking the dog, meal prep, laundry, or running errands for additional fees.
  • Start Your Care Search ASAP: Starting your care search as soon as possible means you’ll have the widest selection of caregivers to choose from before demand surges.
  • Interview/Trial Run Multiple Candidates: Allow time to interview and have a “trial run” with a few different nanny and babysitter candidates. This will help you make sure they’re a good fit with your kids and, if you need more than one regular caretaker to fit your schedule, this is a good way to line them up.
  • Pay Your Sitter/Nanny Legally: Start the relationship off on the right foot by paying your caregiver legally. Given the cost of care, you’ll very quickly reach the $2,400 IRS yearly threshold requiring you to pay your household employee on the books. By doing so, you’ll be able to access tax credits to offset childcare costs if you are otherwise eligible and access money from your Flexible Spending Accounts, if you have them and the costs are included.
  • Have A Backup Plan: Create a back-to-school backup plan for what you’ll do if the unexpected happens, like your child becomes sick or your scheduled sitter becomes unavailable. Many employers now offer backup childcare for just these reasons so start by checking in with your HR department to see if there’s help available that you didn’t know about.

Families can find more resources for hiring their back-to-school babysitter or nanny on Care.com’s Care Guides and view the going rates for sitters in their area on its babysitting calculator.

*U.S. regions are designated as follows: Midwest (SD, NE, ND, MO, MN, KS, IA, WI, OH, MI, IN, IL), Northeast (VT, RI, NH, ME, MA, CT, PA, NY, NJ), South (TX, OK, LA, AR, WV, VA, SC, NC, MD, GA, FL, DE, DC, TN, MS, KY, AL) and West (WA, OR, HI, CA, AK, WY, UT, NV, NM, MT, ID, CO, AZ)

About Care.com

Available in more than 20 countries, Care.com is the world’s leading platform for finding and managing high-quality family care. Care.com is designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s families and caregivers, offering everything from household tax and payroll services and customized corporate benefits packages covering the care needs of working families, to innovating new ways for caregivers to be paid and obtain professional benefits. Since 2007, families have relied on Care.com’s industry-leading products — from child and senior care to pet care and home care. Care.com is an IAC company (NASDAQ: IAC)

Contacts

More News

View More
SoundHound Breaks Critical Resistance: How High Can It Get Now?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers SOUN
Klarna IPO: BNPL Stock or Something Bigger?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Initial Public Offering
Tickers AFRM KLAR
Why Teradyne Is a Core Play in the AI Hardware Boom
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers TER
Meta Debuts Next-Gen AI Glasses—A Turning Point for Reality Labs?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers AAPL META
How IREN is Building an AI Powerhouse on a Bitcoin Foundation
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Supply Chain
Tickers IREN NVDA
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.