Balancing Work and Caregiving
Nearly 1 in 20 family caregivers reduce the hours they work or quit working entirely to care for a loved one, according to a study published in The Journals of Gerontology.
Taking into consideration the number of caregivers in Alberta — about 1 million — that translates into about 50,000 caregivers who are forced into unemployment or underemployment.
In some cases, caregivers do not lose their jobs voluntarily. They are fired or forced to quit by employers who are less than sympathetic to their family obligations.
While many family caregivers are able to successfully balance work and caregiving, it’s clear there are many who find it more challenging and that it’s taking a toll on their health and financial wellbeing.
Consequences of Caregiving While Working
- Caregivers find they have to reschedule their working hours, arrive at work late, give up shifts, take a leave of absence or quit.
- The negative impact on their health — such as higher stress levels, chronic worry, sleeplessness, depression, guilt, fatigue and anxiety — can reduce a caregiver’s ability to function fully at work.
- Caregivers who are caring for a loved one with a mental health illness such as dementia are more likely to take time off from work.
- Caregivers are often unable to take advantage of promotions or better work assignments.
- Reduced work hours, missed promotions, quitting, or being fired all put a significant financial burden on caregivers in terms of loss of current and future income and smaller retirement savings.
- Family caregivers also lose precious employee health and other benefits when they quit or are fired.
- Caregivers can also suffer physical injury, for instance, from lifting the person being cared for or being hit by a loved one with dementia.
- Caregivers can wrestle with feelings of failure in their career or that they have wasted their potential.
It’s not a rosy picture. But it’s also not the full picture. It’s important to remember that an overwhelming majority of family caregivers of elderly loved ones report that caregiving is a positive, fulfilling experience.
Family caregivers feel that their role has helped them to grow, and they are proud that they can give back to people who gave so much to them. Many also feel it’s a duty they embrace and that they are modelling good values for their own children.
So, while juggling employed work with caring for a loved one is no cakewalk, many caregivers wouldn’t have it any other way. Considering the social and economic value they provide, it’s not too much to ask that they get the necessary support to be effective at home — and at work.
10 Tips for Balancing Work and Caregiving
Chances are you have already asked family members and friends to help out as much as possible. And you’ve also reached out to local organizations and programs (such as Meals on Wheels and professional in-home caregivers) to assist you.
If you haven’t, you should tackle (as soon as possible) those strategies that will no doubt help you to bring more balance to your work and caregiving responsibilities.
Next steps…
- Have a real heart-to-heart with yourself about whether you want to stick with your current job or prefer to look elsewhere for a job that might bring you more of that equilibrium you’re seeking. It’s vital before taking the next step.
- Get ready to approach your employer or supervisor. Many Canadians are unaware that family caregiving is covered under the Canadian Human Rights Act. An employer cannot discriminate against you based on family status.
- Write out what you want to say to your employer. It can be a difficult conversation to have so leave as little as possible to chance. Also, approach the conversation with an attitude of flexibility. Avoid being demanding or getting angry if you aren’t successful initially. Be patient, but persistent.
- Be ready to provide proof of your caregiving responsibility and specific reasons why you need certain accommodations to be made at work.
- Focus on bringing solutions. For instance, suggest ways you can improve efficiency at your job. For instance, can you work from home, can you delegate some duties, are some duties redundant?
And are some meetings really necessary? A study of 19 million meetings found that they are big time wasters. Provide an alternative that limits the amount of them or your personal participation.
- Show your employer or supervisor that you have reached out for support, but that you need more assistance. You don’t want your employer to feel like they’re being asked to take the full weight of your efforts to balance work with caregiving.
Even though you might be protected under the Human Rights Act, not all employers are as understanding. Connect the dots for them and give them as much information and reassurance as they need.
- Be open with your colleagues. Many caregivers are reluctant to talk about their family situation, preferring not to burden others with the challenges they are facing.
It’s completely understandable if you prefer to keep it private. However, being upfront about your obligations provides context for your colleagues when you are missing work or showing up late. It’s easier for them to be understanding and supportive if they know what’s going on with you.
- If you want to stay in your current field or industry, start looking for positions closer to home. For many people seeking more balance between work and family — not just caregiving — cutting down on commuting time can be a difference-maker.
- Apply for financial assistance, such as the EI Caregiving Benefits, available to caregivers who have to take time off from work. Knowing you have this funding to fall back on can really take the pressure off.
- Schedule me-time. When you make this a priority, it’s more likely you’ll actually do it. Just a few hours each week (which could be as little as 30 minutes a day) all for yourself gives you to time to destress.
It also offers the opportunity to take stock, find innovative solutions for balancing work and caregiving, and to plan. As self-empowerment guru Les Brown says, “You can’t see the picture when you’re in the frame.”
Source:
The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Reduced Employment in Caregivers of Frail Elders: Impact of Ethnicity, Patient Clinical Characteristics, and Caregiver Characteristics
