Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) is a multifaceted, innovative communications company with strong roots in the Triangle community. Founded in 1937, CBC has grown from a single radio station to a diversified network encompassing broadcasting, new media, real estate, and professional sports.
CBC employs nearly 500 people across its divisions, and its leadership attributes this growth in part to their commitment to their employees, their families, and the community at-large.
“If we take care of our employees and our community, then the community and our employees will take care of the business,” says Pam Genske, Vice President of Human Resources at CBC. “It’s an interlocked partnership, but beyond that, it’s just the right thing to do.”
CBC offers their employees a broad range of family-friendly policies and benefits that aim to support people in every stage of life, including the unique needs of employees with young children.
One such benefit is their Child Care Scholarship program, which provides a stipend of up to $200 per child, per month to assist employees in paying for child care, before- and after-school programs, and even summer camp.
“Child care is getting harder and harder to find and it’s super expensive, especially for two kids,” says Laura Zabinski, Executive Director of CBC’s American Underground. Laura, who has been with CBC for five and a half years, is the mother of a three-year-old and a five-month-old who attend a child care program in Durham. She currently utilizes the Child Care Scholarship benefit for both children, receiving a total of $400 per month towards her family’s child care expenses.
“Having this benefit absolutely helps offset the cost and allows me to show up at work and be fully present. I have the flexibility to be a mom and still be a really hard worker,” Zabinski says. “I feel fully supported in that, and honestly, I think I’ve achieved more in my career since becoming a parent.”
Child care shortages abound in North Carolina, and the average cost of care for one baby is more than the cost of public college tuition. CBC believes that assisting employees in finding and affording high-quality child care is one of the most important things employers can do to help alleviate the stress and financial burden for working parents with young children.
“It’s definitely a highlight for a lot of our employees,” says Gabriela Berrios, CBC’s People Operations Manager.
As Berrios points out, simply having a benefit available isn’t always enough – it’s also important to create an environment where employees actually use it. “We have a diverse team of people who can give real life, relatable examples of using these benefits. Our employees never have to question ‘Am I actually allowed to do this?’”
In 2024, nearly 30 employees used the Child Care Scholarship benefit, which is disbursed as a quarterly check.
CBC’s generous and wide-ranging benefits platform contributes to its solid reputation as an employer, but Genske and Berrios say it goes beyond that. Whether hosting family-friendly events, engaging in local community initiatives, distributing Mother’s Day flowers and hosting Santa pictures, or offering tickets so that employees can take their families to baseball games and concerts, CBC offers many little touches to show people appreciation for the roles they play outside of the organization.
“We want to make sure our employees feel that not only are they being taken care of, but their families are taken care of, as well,” said Berrios.
Research shows that family-friendly workplace policies are invaluable in helping businesses recruit and retain employees, something that is particularly important for CBC, a company that relies heavily on niche talent across many of their divisions, from on-air TV broadcasters to baseball managers.
“Yes, we’re concerned about the bottom line, but all of these things help us achieve our bottom line,” Genske said. “Offering the Child Care Scholarship benefit is not a major lift for us. What would be a heavier lift is trying to replace the great talent that we have on staff. By investing in our people, we feel that we’re actually saving money.”
Genske added that offering family-friendly benefits has also resulted in increased productivity and growth, helping employees have peace of mind and cultivating an environment where the company “has the back” of its people.“
Having the child care scholarship shows me that I can be a parent and work at the same time. They’re supporting both of those worlds,” Zabinski said. “I’m really, really grateful for that and for the opportunity to continue to grow and excel in my career.”
Sample Benefits
- Child Care Scholarship/Stipend
- Paid Time Off
- Health and Wellness Program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Dependent Care Reimbursement
- Tuition Assistance
- Student Loan Assistance