Caring for family members and loved ones is a responsibility that more than 1 in 5 employees undertake while continuing to maintain their professional roles.
However, a recent study conducted by Arizent has shed light on the pressing need for employers to provide greater support to their caregiving employees because employees are feeling overwhelmed by the lack of overall support. This leads to increased stress, fatigue, and anxiety, which can ultimately drive them to leave their jobs. In order to address this issue, employers need to focus on improving communication, learning opportunities, and benefits tailored to the needs of caregivers.
The Growing Demand for Employer Support
More than a third of Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial employees are currently engaged in caregiving roles for an adult. Yet, despite these growing numbers, the study found that fewer than one in five employees reported receiving support from their workplaces in regards to their caregiving obligations.
The study also revealed that female employees, who shoulder more caregiving burden, are leaving their positions in large numbers due to increased caregiving responsibilities. Recognizing and addressing this gender disparity is crucial for creating a more equitable and supportive workplace.
The Struggle of Caregiving and Working
Caregivers of adults spend an average of 51 hours per week coordinating healthcare and services, taking care of chores and providing direct care. Assuming an 8 hour workday, this can equate to 15 hours per day spent on work and caregiving responsibilities.
Is this sustainable? No, and it emphasizes the need for employers to provide flexible work arrangements and supportive platforms to assist employees in navigating the complex elder care landscape.
Tailoring Benefits to Address Caregiving Needs
The Arizent study identified several specific benefits that can significantly alleviate the burden faced by employee caregivers. These include flexibility in work hours, paid time off for caregiving duties, financial assistance programs, and platforms designed to assist caregivers in managing their loved ones' needs.
Employers who offer these multi-tiered support systems to their caregiving employees can effectively recruit and retain top talent while promoting a healthy work-life balance.
A Wake-Up Call
This is a wake-up call for employers to recognize and address the needs of your employees - especially considering that the numbers of caregivers will only continue to grow. By providing comprehensive support, learning opportunities, and tailored benefits, employers can alleviate the stress and anxiety faced by family caregivers, ultimately resulting in:
Increased employee satisfaction and retention
A compassionate and inclusive workplace culture
A strengthened talent pool
Improved productivity and reduced absenteeism
A Comprehensive Solution
Mellie is your comprehensive and affordable all-in-one elder care solution. With Mellie, you can offer your caregiver employees learning opportunities, access to a dedicated geriatric care professional, and an easy-to-use platform to plan, manage and collaborate on care from any mobile device.
Contact us at hello@mellie.com to learn more about how we can create a customized solution to meet the specific needs of your workforce and that fits with your benefits package.