It may seem strange that just a few years ago, childcare was a major issue in the workplace. As the number of two-income households has increased, so has the need for more flexible workplace options for parents. However, businesses now face a new obstacle when it comes to assisting and retaining valued employees. Many of these workers are now taking care of their older parents.
Health and wellness website Healthline recently shed light on the issue in an article about caregivers. According to the source, this group makes up about a quarter of the workforce in the United States.
Over a decade ago, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) warned employers that workers providing care for parents was an emerging issue. In the organization's 2003 Eldercare Survey, 25 percent of HR professionals said that they allowed employees to take time off to care for aging parents, but the vast majority also admitted that their workplaces had no formal policies for doing so.
Lisa Horowitz, an HR consultant, told Healthline that despite the warning, many employers have not changed their ways.
"I have business owners and employers who are faced with the increased frequency of employees taking time off and/or being distracted during work hours with the ongoing care of elderly family members," Horowitz told the source. "On the other side, I speak almost daily with clients who have elderly relatives they are trying to care for."
Some caregivers who were interviewed in the piece noted that they sometimes had to leave work to see a loved one for reasons that were not particularly serious. The aging parent often wanted to talk or just see their child for a few minutes.
At Independa, we offer a comprehensive suite of independent living solutions that enable care recipients to benefit from remote monitoring and maintain constant contact with caregivers and family members. To find out more information, contact us through our online form.
