Many employees are tasked with caregiving for family members while working full-time. We often hear about the “sandwich” generation, the people who are taking care of their children and their parents, but there are many caregiving situations that fall outside of that category.
People care for grandparents, aunts and uncles, and many other family members. I personally help with caregiving for one of my brothers who is disabled. Many of the situations fall outside of the family members covered by FMLA, so these types of caregiving can be a challenge.
Some companies are starting to offer programs to assist their employees who are caregivers. One benefits provider, Bright Horizons, recently expanded their eldercare benefits because they view these needs as very similar to childcare needs.
According to Bright Horizons, “Elder care costs organizations $34 million annually in lost productivity, presenteeism, and increased medical spending.” Being a caregiver can be stressful for everyone, but those who are working and acting as caregivers experience severe levels of stress. Human Resource Executive recently reported, "Six in 10 caregivers have experienced at least one caregiving-related effect at work, such as cutting back on their working hours, taking a leave of absence, and/or receiving a warning about performance or attendance."
In many cases, providing care for a loved one becomes a second full-time job, yet only 35% of large employers offer any kind of leave for those caregivers. The good news is that another 28% of companies are considering adding leave in the next two years. Due to the cost of lost productivity, it can benefit employers to offer some type of assistance for caregivers.
Having support during this pandemic is particularly important. Even when family members are in assisted living or some other type of care facility, or even living alone at home, family members are still needed to ensure the best care. Caregivers still take care of grocery shopping, laundry, and many other needs. However, with the stay-at-home order these family members cannot help as much as they usually do or need to. The other side of that coin is that the elderly and/or people with compromised immune systems often fear letting help into their space because they worry about the virus being transmitted.
Many care facilities are banning visitors and non-essential employees. This adds to the stress of being a caregiver. Employers can help ease the burden by being flexible with work schedules and providing benefits with resources to assist in caregiving.
There is a stigma associated with caregiving as employers traditionally view caregivers as a liability. Removing that stigma will help in alleviating the stress of caring for a loved one, and relieving stress helps employees to perform better.
Consider ways to support your caregiving staff. Your business will be better for it.
Additional ASE Resources
Michigan Policies and Benefits Survey – Find out what other Michigan employers offer for caregiving benefits. ASE Members can access the 2019 Michigan Policies and Benefits Survey in their member dashboard. Non-members can purchase the survey by contact ASE Survey Services.
Sources: employeebenefitadviser.com; caregiver.com; brighthorizons.com; myguidance.fidelity.com; hrexecutive.com