Work Life FAQs

As part of NYU's commitment to supporting the overall wellbeing of its faculty, researchers, and administrators, the Work Life office identifies and responds to work-life challenges and needs throughout the career life cycle in an effort to foster better work-life integration. Informed by current research and workplace best practices, our mission is to create a forward-thinking work environment where NYU community members feel supported in their personal and professional lives.

This FAQ is intended to help you understand, at a glance, the services and supports that Work Life currently offers. We encourage you to visit this page regularly, along with our other topic-oriented pages for the most up to date information.

Work Life Services at a Glance

The Work Life office provides personalized consultations, educational programming, support groups, and connections to resources, along with advocating for healthy work-life policies and practices.

Question	Answer	Details	Contact
Can I speak to someone one-on-one about my work-life concerns?	Work Life offers personalized consultations to faculty, administrators, and researchers. We help you identify options and resources to address your work-life challenges.	Work Life	Child Care & Schools: Helga Yuan Larsen // Adult Care & Retirement: Stacey Gordon // Workplace Wellness: Grace Cosachov Protos
Do you offer support groups?	The Work Life office leads a number of support groups that you can join.	New and Expectant Parents Group // Parents Group for Faculty Families // Support Group for Adult Caregivers // Conversation Group for Managers	Work Life
How can I stay up-to-date about Work Life’s programming and events?	We encourage NYU community members to subscribe to our newsletters and follow us on Facebook for the latest news and updates.	Work Life Events Calendar // Work Life Newsletter // Parenting at NYU Newsletter // Work Life Facebook	Work Life

Parenting Support

Work Life’s Program Director for Child Care & Education Helga Yuan Larsen can help you think through your child care options, guide you in navigating the public and private school systems, and connect you with other NYU families to build your community of support. More information can be found on the Child Care & Schools webpage.

Question	Answer	Resources	Contact
Where can I find ongoing child care near the Washington Square campus?	There are several early care and learning programs around NYU with whom Work Life has established an affiliate relationship, including Creative Steps, UPNS, Bright Horizons at NoHo, and Miss Adela Tapia.	Child Care, After-School, and Camp Programs	Work Life
How can I hire a NYU student to be a sitter or tutor for my child?	The NYU Child Care Google Group is a dedicated space closed to the NYU community (families, current students, & recent alum). The group functions as a shared "bulletin board" where members can post, search for, and respond to caregiving jobs.	Join the NYU Child Care Google Group	Work Life
Where can I find back-up care for my child when my ongoing care arrangement is unavailable or when school is closed?	The university subsidizes 10 back-up care days per calendar year for eligible employees' caregiving needs through Bright Horizons. Along with the back-up care program, Bright Horizons offers additional enhanced family supports.	Bright Horizons	Work Life/ People Link
Where can I find other familes to swap or share care?	Komae is a cooperative childcare app where families can rotate care or share in the hiring of a nanny/sitter. Families build their circle for cooperative childcare within the NYU Group or by creating their own Group(s) from their personal networks.	Komae at NYU	Work Life
Does the University provide any financial assistance for families?	NYU offers several financial assistance programs to help families with eligible child care expenses, including scholarships, subsidy programs, and flexible spending accounts.	Work-Life Family Supports for Faculty // Work-Life Family Supports for Employees // Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account // Child Care Subsidy Program for Students	People Link

Adult Care

If you are a caregiver for an adult loved one, Work Life’s Program Director for Next Phase, Adult Caregiving, and Retirement Stacey Gordon can provide you with the resources and support to balance your responsibilities.

Question	Answer	Details	Contact
Where can I find backup in-home care for myself or an adult loved one?	The university subsidizes 10 back-up care days per calendar year for eligible employees' caregiving needs through Bright Horizons. Along with the back-up care program, Bright Horizons offers additional enhanced family supports.	Bright Horizons	People Link
My parents are growing older and they live far away. I'd like to have a conversation with them about options for their future care. Is there someone at NYU who can guide me in having this conversation?	Dr. Stacey Gordon is a trained gerontologist and social worker. She is available for individual or family consultations about general and specific family concerns around adult caregiving.	Individual or family consultation	Stacey Gordon

Workplace Wellness

Workplace wellness means wellness at every level—individual, departmental, and University-wide. Work Life provides wellbeing resources for NYU community members and advocates for a culture where employees can bring their whole selves to work. More information can be found on the Workplace Wellness page.

Question	Answer	Resources	Contact
Does the University provide mental health counseling services for faculty and employees?	The University's Employee Assistance Program provides access to five free sessions of mental health counseling for you and your dependents with the option to be referred to an in-network provider.	Employee Assistance Program- Powered by Optum	Optum counselor Dr. Bob Tablot is NYU's on-site EAP counselor.
Any tips for practicing self care right now?	Work Life has highlighted several self care resources available to the NYU community.	Workplace Wellness - Self Care	Work Life
I lead a team. How can I support them, especially as we transition back to in-person work?	The Work Life office developed a toolkit of instructive and reflective materials for managers. The toolkit comprises six evidence-based practices culled from the worlds of social work, psychology, and business.	Managing with a Work-Life Perspective: A Manager’s Toolkit	Work Life

Retirement

If you’re considering retirement, Work Life’s Program Director for Next Phase, Adult Caregiving, and Retirement Stacey Gordon can help you think through what life might look like for you. More information can be found on the Retirement webpage.

Question	Answer	Resources	Contact
I’m thinking of retiring and wondering about what the next phase of my life will look like.	Work Life offers workshops and individual consultations to discuss retirement from a psychosocial perspective.	Envisioning Retirement Workshop // Individual Consultations	Stacey Gordon
I’m thinking about retirement and have questions about my health care and post-retiree benefits.	Human Resources offers benefits workshops that cover post-retirement benefits, including Medicare, Social Security, and TIAA.	Retiree Benefits Workshop	PeopleLink