Studies repeatedly find that caregivers who are employed are under a great deal of strain, often with negative impacts on their health and employment. A new report from the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregivers called “Working While Caring: Innovations and Interventions to Support Caregivers in the Workplace” is an output of the organization’s initiative to fill critical gaps in the caregiver-employee experience through research, communications, and employer engagement.
The report describes how one group of employers collaborated to: 1) raise their own awareness of the issues facing employees who are working while caregiving, 2) identify options for supporting current and future caregivers, and 3) develop fit for purpose, practical solutions.
The report is a follow up to a previous report called “Invisible Overtime,” which provided employers with key facts about employee caregivers, their struggles with labor force participation, and the outcomes and costs of caregiving for both employees and employers.
The new report is informative to any employer looking to improve support of employees who are caregivers. It identifies several strategies with recommendations for employers that include establishing flexible work schedules, offering counseling and connection to formal services and care.
More information and strategies are available in the full report here.