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Beyond the Workday: Finding Balance For The Working Caregiver
Employers face many challenges today,
from recruitment and retention of quality workers, to
engagement and productivity on the job. Many employees are
also struggling – especially those who care for an aging
relative or friend.
Nearly 60 percent of people caring for an adult over the age
of 50 in the U.S. are working; the majority of those work
full-time. [1] Ninety-two percent of
eldercare in Minnesota is provided by family caregivers.
[2]
The
Working Caregiver Initiative
provides employers with
resources to address the needs of employees who are
balancing work and caring for an aging or sick family member
or friend. It was developed to increase employers’
knowledge about caregiving issues in the workplace and
provide some tools to support working caregivers.
Finding ways to support working caregivers is a cooperative
effort. Successful solutions will work for both the
employee and employer.
Assessing the unique needs of working
caregivers is a good place to start.
Did you know?
- At least 60 percent of working caregivers have made
some work-related adjustments as a result of their
caregiving responsibilities. [3]
- Elder caregiving costs American employers $17 billion
to $34 billion in lost productivity annually.
[4]
Quotes
-
Owner: “When I inherited this company, it was fun to
create a work environment exactly like one I’d want to
work in. My father always saw the business as a vehicle
for all of us to lead better lives – not just the owners,
but all the employees.”
- Business manager: “Everyone is handled case by case.
We all have another life outside of work... We provide a
great work environment, and that’s enabled us to attract
really great people who work very hard.”
- CEO: “You don’t have to give everyone the same special
treatment; you just have to treat everyone specially!”
Sources:
1,4 -
Caregiving
in the United States, National Alliance for Caregiving and
AARP, 2004.
2 -
Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2005.
3 -
Met Life Caregiving Cost Study, Met Life Mature Market
Institute and National Alliance for Caregiving, 2006.
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