In today's world of work, the traditional landscape of caregiving responsibilities has dramatically evolved. More employees than ever before are balancing the demands of elder care alongside childcare, all while working full-time. As these caregiving responsibilities take centre stage, it is essential for employers to recognise the unique challenges faced by their employees and take steps to help support them, so they can show up as their happiest, most productive selves.
We asked our friends at Seniorcare by Lottie about the challenges of caregiving on the workforce today:
“With an ageing population, access to appropriate eldercare is one of the biggest challenges we’re facing as a society. It’s estimated that 5 million people in the UK are juggling caring responsibilities with work - that's 1 in 5 of the workforce - and we need to do more to support carers in the workplace, who are juggling employment, child care and caregiving responsibilities each day.” – Will Donnelly, Co-Founder at Lottie and Seniorcare By Lottie
Let’s take a look at seven ways employers can support employees with caregiving responsibilities at home.
1. Flexible working arrangements
One of the most impactful ways to support caregivers is by offering flexible working arrangements. Whether it’s flexible hours or the option to work-from-home, flexible working arrangements enable employees to better manage their time and meet both their professional goals and their personal caregiving responsibilities. By providing the autonomy to adjust work schedules, employers can help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with rigid work hours and conflicting caregiving demands.
2. Mental health support and stress management
Caregiving is hard, emotionally exhausting work, and it can often lead to burnout and mental health implications. Mental health support and stress management goes a long way in making sure your employees are still able to meet their own needs while supporting others.
There are many ways employers can provide this support, including:
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
- Counselling and therapy services
- Stress management workshops
Promoting a culture that encourages seeking help and provides accessible mental health resources can significantly enhance the well-being of caregiver employees.
3. Leave options
Offering comprehensive leave options is another way employers can go the extra mile for employees juggling caregiving responsibilities. This can include not only standard paid time off but also other types of paid leave such as family and medical leave, caregiving leave, and emergency leave. Providing paid and unpaid leave options tailored to caregiving needs ensures that employees do not have to choose between their job and their loved ones' care. Clear communication about available leave options and ensuring that employees understand their rights can alleviate much of the stress associated with caregiving.
4. Childcare and eldercare employee benefits
For many employees, there comes a time where the level of care needed at home means choosing between these responsibilities and work. Providing childcare as an employee benefit, such as through workplace nursery schemes, is one way to massively relieve parent employees of the emotional and financial burden of choosing childcare.
But childcare isn’t the only care responsibility that affects employees. In fact, by the end of 2024, the ONS predicts that more employees will have elderly dependents than children – so providing eldercare benefits is more important than ever.
Source: ONS, Lottie
Eldercare as a benefit can include digital resources to help plan for care, assistance finding the right in-home support or care centres, and financial help to alleviate funding eldercare.
Finding the right eldercare solution for your team is essential. Services like Seniorcare by Lottie give employees the tools to empower themselves and their families with the knowledge and resources they need to provide the best care possible to their loved ones. Not only will you be providing the practical assistance your employees need, but you’ll also demonstrate your commitment to supporting your team’s diverse care needs, opening you up to an even wider pool of top talent.
5. Manager training on supporting caregivers
Managers play a critical role in supporting caregiver employees. Providing training for managers on the challenges faced by caregivers and effective ways to support them can make a real impact. Training can cover topics like:
- Recognising the signs of caregiver stress
- Managing stress at work
- Understanding carer’s rights
- Creating supportive workplace culture
Informed and compassionate managers can create an environment where caregiver employees feel understood and valued and can bring their best selves to work.
6. Flexible benefits allowances
Your employees are all unique, and so are their care support needs. Enter flexible allowances: these give employees the opportunity to find the support that works best for them.
As an employer, you can choose to offer this as a carer’s allowance, where employees are allotted a specific allowance amount to use on anything care-related, or take it one step further and provide a full flexible allowance that lets them spend on anything they need, no questions asked – so whether they’d like to spend that on supplies that make at-home care easier or some much needed R&R, your employees and their loved ones are covered. Plus, you can set it up as a recurring allowance (ie. monthly) to help with ongoing care needs, or a larger, one-time budget to help alleviate upfront costs of care.
Learn more about setting up flexible budgets for your team – and how Ben can make it easier than ever for your employees to get the care support they need.
7. Set up a carers network
Establishing a carers network within your company can provide a robust support system for employees with caregiving responsibilities. A carers network offers a space for caregivers to connect, share resources, and support one another. It can also serve as a forum for discussing common challenges and advocating for additional resources. By fostering a sense of community and solidarity, employers can help caregivers feel less isolated and more supported.
Final thoughts
As more and more employees have care responsibilities at home, it’s time for employers to adapt to the changing needs of their teams. These strategies both help employees who are carers to feel supported at home, and demonstrate your commitment to employee wellbeing. Because when employers invest in the well-being of carer employees, they invest in the company’s success.