Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace
While remote and flexible work arrangements have helped employees manage personal challenges since the start of the pandemic, recent years have also uncovered increased burdens on employees, particularly those who are caregivers in addition to their traditional employment.
Over 20% of Americans are now caregivers, and over 60% of caregivers are caring for an adult while working.* AARP estimates that these caregivers provide an average of 23.7 hours a week for 4.5 years to care for an aging, ill, or disabled relative.** These employees are faced with increased financial burdens, and physical and mental burnout, especially as the pandemic has dramatically disrupted retirement, healthcare and financial plans for many older Americans.
44% of family caregivers who are employed on a full-time basis have had to switch to part-time work schedules.*** Even more troubling, nearly 20% of caregivers employed outside of the home have had to quit their jobs entirely to meet the needs of a loved one.****
Employers can play a significant role to relieve the stress and fatigue these employees face. Federal and state leave programs often leave gaps in income replacement for caregivers; increasing paid sick days, providing more flexible work hours, and offering expanded paid caregiver leave can help employees balance their work days with the needs of the loved ones relying on them.
Backup care assistance programs provide 24/7 support for employees and provide local resources for fill-in care when needed. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are also a valuable and underutilized benefit for caregivers.
Voluntary life insurance options and voluntary legal benefits can also provide additional peace of mind for caregivers. Voluntary legal benefits can help cover money matters, family and personal issues, and eldercare issues. Many legal programs now also offer expanded coverage of parents and grandparents along with additional benefits specific to caregiving.
Helping caregivers now also can break the cycle so that these stresses are not passed down to the next generation. Providing expanded caregiver benefits may also be the difference between what retains an employee or sees another valuable employee exit the workforce.
* https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html
** https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html
*** Resource: Rosalyn Carter Institute
**** Resource: Rosalyn Carter Institute