Support the financial wellness of workplace caregivers

Employers have an opportunity to help their employees navigate caregiving challenges. By creating a supportive workplace culture, employers will empower employees to feel more comfortable with their caregiving responsibilities, more productive at work, and more likely to stay on the job. Here are several steps employers can take to support the emotional, physical, and financial wellness of employees who are family caregivers:

Awareness – Conduct employee surveys to assess the ways in which your workforce is affected and impacted by caregiving responsibilities. Keep in mind that many caregiving employees don't identify themselves as "caregivers." Oftentimes, caregivers think of themselves as just being a good daughter or son, parent or spouse. So, be sure when you are conducting these surveys that you ask about the kinds of caregiving activities a person may spend time on, rather than asking employees directly if they are caregivers.
Information – Provide access – for example on your corporate intranet — to accurate, up-to-date information about local resources to help working caregivers, as well as information to tackle legal and financial challenges. This can help to raise awareness of caregiving issues, provide support and resources, and emphasize that the company supports a work-life-balance. Another way to provide information is through lunch and learn sessions where attendees can learn more about available resources, ask questions, and spark conversations about caregiving responsibilities and work.
Benefits – Provide benefits that offer unique, expert solutions to working caregivers. In tandem with an employee assistance plan, a focused caregiving solution is an invaluable resource to employees looking for help from experienced, trusted professionals. Ideally, your employees should have access to expert-led care teams or counselors to provide medical advice, make referrals, and ask questions to get to the root of problems.
Wellbeing – The relentless stress of caregiving often leads to mental health challenges for employees. More employers than ever have robust mental health benefits, and it is important to encourage employees to use those benefits and to take time off for self-care. Burnout is widespread among caregivers and can be minimized by encouraging these kinds of steps.
Culture – America's 'always on' work culture has tremendous benefits, but it can be incompatible with caregiving responsibilities. Create a caregiver-friendly workplace through supportive workplace programs and policies. Examples include updating workplace policies to include flexible work arrangements for all employees, providing managerial training on the importance of helping working caregivers achieve a healthy work-life-balance, or designating a specific team to help employees understand and use available resources.

Caregiving is a complex problem that is becoming a characteristic of the modern workplace. Recognizing this reality and implementing thoughtful, holistic solutions represents a tremendous opportunity for employers to compete – and win – in a highly competitive environment.

Instant Insights /

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