Life doesn't pause for work schedules. Surgery dates don't align with project deadlines. Emergencies and diagnoses don't wait for convenient times to show up. And yet, too many workplaces still operate as if our professional and personal lives exist in separate, sealed boxes.
BAM knows this firsthand. That's why we created Caregiving Time Off (CTO), a benefit that acknowledges a simple truth: Sometimes the people we love need us to show up, and we shouldn't have to choose between being there for them and being there for our jobs.
For Jill Veglahn, Head of People, CTO became a lifeline during one of the most challenging periods of her life. Last month, she spent time caring for her father. In her own words:
"June was a raw and brutal time for me. I spent the month caretaking for my dad, who is experiencing Alzheimer's. There were days the grief and loss were unbearable and I wanted to run. Days I didn't recognize who I was. I wasn't just losing pieces of him, I was losing pieces of myself. There were also moments of absolute beauty, joy, and healing."
CTO wasn't just another line item from BAM's benefits package — it was what allowed Jill to be fully present for her father without sacrificing her career or depleting her own well-being through the stress of juggling impossible choices.
Jill isn't alone. We're living through a caregiving crisis that most workplaces haven't acknowledged. For the first time in U.S. history, more Americans are caring for aging parents than children; roughly 23 million adults care for older relatives.
Unpaid caregiving now accounts for over $600 billion in labor annually, yet less than a third of workers have access to paid family or caregiving leave. The disconnect is staggering: Millions of people are navigating care responsibilities while trying to hold onto their jobs, stay healthy, and remain engaged at work.
What's even more sobering: Workers in the U.S. aren't guaranteed a single paid day off by federal law. Not one. There's no federal law providing a right to paid family or medical leave, and only 13 states have passed their own paid family or medical leave legislation.
For Millennials and Gen Z, the core of BAM's workforce, this support is essential. Many are either sandwiched between young children and aging parents or looking ahead to that possibility. Others are caring for partners, siblings, fur babies, or chosen family members who need support.
This generation values flexibility, emotional support, and authenticity at work. When a company acknowledges that caregiving isn't just a "family issue" but a fundamentally human experience, it builds trust. It tells people they don't have to compartmentalize their lives or hide the realities of what they're going through. They can bring their whole selves to work, including the parts that are grieving, stressed, loving, and responsible for others.
Beyond doing the right thing, CTO makes business sense. Companies that offer backup care save 10 days of missed work per employee annually. Employees who use care time off are up to 30% more likely to stay with their employer and deliver stronger performance. Other research shows a 25% reduction in turnover and a 30% drop in absenteeism tied to caregiver support services.
And here's what the numbers don't capture: CTO reduces burnout, increases retention, and fosters a culture where people feel truly seen and supported. When employees know their company has their back during life's most challenging moments, they bring more energy, creativity, and loyalty to their work.
At BAM, CTO is simple: it's time off specifically designated for caregiving responsibilities that doesn't impact your regular PTO. Whether you're helping a grandparent through surgery, supporting a partner through illness, or caring for a parent with Alzheimer's, CTO gives you the flexibility to be present without the added stress of depleting vacation time or taking unpaid leave.
The policy also recognizes that caregiving isn't always a single event, and is sometimes an ongoing responsibility that requires flexibility. Some situations call for a portion of time away, while others might need shorter, scattered periods of care.
At its core, CTO is about making space for the full spectrum of human experience. It acknowledges that we're not just employees: We're people with families, loved ones, and communities that depend on us. It recognizes that grief, stress, love, and responsibility don't clock out at 5 p.m.
When Jill reflects on her experience using CTO, she emphasizes how it allowed her to be present: "I didn't have to choose between being there for my dad and being there for my job." That's the point. Life is complex, and the people who matter to us sometimes need us to show up in ways that don't fit neatly into our work structures. CTO helps our team navigate these realities with dignity, support, and without financial penalty.
BAM believes your humanity belongs at work, too. We know the best teams are whole people leading full lives, and supporting them through all of life's seasons makes us stronger as a company.