Why business should do more for employees looking after elderly relatives

Business should do more for employees looking after elderly relatives 

‍As the population ages, many businesses are facing an increasingly common challenge: how to support employees who are looking after elderly relatives. With the rise of the ‘sandwich generation’ – those who are trying to juggle work, children and elderly parents – businesses must do more to accommodate the needs of their employees. From providing flexible working hours to offering special leave, there are a number of steps businesses can take to support those looking after elderly relatives. By taking action, businesses can benefit from improved employee retention, better productivity and a stronger sense of loyalty from their workforce. Ultimately, businesses need to recognise that supporting employees looking after elderly relatives is not just a moral imperative, but also a practical business decision.
 
 
Overview of the ‘sandwich generation

’The ‘sandwich generation’ is a term used to describe those people who are caught between children and elderly parents. Typically, these people will be in their 30s, 40s and 50s, although the sandwich generation can include people of all ages. As the population ages, the number of people in the sandwich generation is increasing. Although the term is not an official demographic, it is a useful way of describing the specific challenges facing those in the sandwich generation. The term ‘sandwich’ refers to the fact that these people are ‘sandwiched’ between two other groups: their children, who often require financial and/or emotional support; and their parents, who often require financial and/or medical assistance.
 
Benefits of supporting employees looking after elderly relatives

There are many benefits to businesses of supporting employees looking after elderly relatives. Better work-life balance: Supporting employees looking after elderly relatives can help to improve work-life balance, which has been found to have a positive impact on productivity. Less absenteeism: Employees who have elderly relatives at home are likely to have less time available to care for them, which can lead to absenteeism at work if they take time off to look after their relatives. Therefore, by providing support for employees looking after elderly relatives, businesses can reduce absenteeism. Improved employee retention: According to a study by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), employees who are able to take time off to care for elderly relatives are more likely to remain at their company in the long term. This is because when people feel supported, they are more likely to feel grateful to their employer. Stronger sense of loyalty: When employees feel supported, they are more likely to feel grateful to their employer, which can lead to a stronger sense of loyalty.
 
Examples of how businesses can support employees

Flexible working: Many businesses offer flexible working as a way of supporting employees with caregiving responsibilities. This can include offering part-time or flexi-time hours, allowing employees to work remotely or offering a job-share scheme. Having flexible working hours can help employees who are dealing with elderly relatives by enabling them to work around their caregiving responsibilities. Special leave: A growing number of businesses are offering special leave to employees looking after elderly relatives. This includes compassionate leave, family leave, family medical leave, bereavement leave and elder care leave. These allow employees to take time off work to deal with pressing caregiving responsibilities without worrying about the impact it will have on their career progression. Financial and practical support: Many businesses have set up funds to help their employees deal with costs associated with elderly relatives. This could include helping employees pay for a relative’s care, transport to visit them or general household expenses. Businesses can also offer support in the form of practical assistance. This can include helping employees find a care provider or giving them advice on how to best care for their relative.
 
Flexible working

For many people, flexible working is the most obvious way to support employees looking after elderly relatives because it is a non-financial solution. There are a number of ways businesses can help employees to work flexibly. This can include offering part-time or flexi-time hours, allowing employees to work remotely or offering a job-share scheme. Having flexible working hours can help workers who are dealing with elderly relatives by enabling them to work around their caregiving responsibilities. Some businesses also have policies in place to help employees balance their work and caregiving commitments. These could include a flexible working policy or a family-friendly policy. Furthermore, some companies offer on-site childcare or have a childcare voucher scheme.
 
Special leave

A growing number of businesses are offering special leave to employees looking after elderly relatives. This includes compassionate leave, family leave, family medical leave, bereavement leave and elder care leave. These allow employees to take time off work to deal with pressing caregiving responsibilities without worrying about the impact it will have on their career progression. Compassionate leave: This leave can be used to deal with any urgent and unexpected event that has a major impact on an employee’s health or welfare. Family leave: This leave can be used for any serious family responsibility, including the care of an elderly relative. Family medical leave: This leave can be used to care for an immediate family member who has a serious health condition. Bereavement leave: This leave can be used to deal with the death of a family member. Elder care leave: This leave can be used to care for an elderly relative.
 
Financial and practical support

Many businesses have set up funds to help their employees deal with costs associated with elderly relatives. This could include helping employees pay for a relative’s care, transport to visit them or general household expenses. This helps employees who are looking after elderly relatives, as they do not have to worry about how to cover these costs. Businesses can also offer support in the form of practical assistance. This could include helping employees find a care provider or giving them advice on how to best care for their relative.
 
Employee Assistance Programs

A key way in which businesses can support employees looking after elderly relatives is through an employee assistance programme (EAP). This is an internal, confidential service for employees who may be experiencing issues in their personal lives. An EAP can be used to provide assistance with a wide range of issues, including caregiving. They can help employees to find the support they need, be it a doctor, a therapist or counselling. EAPs can also advise employees about other support services. This can include help with finding a care provider or navigating government benefits. EAPs are increasingly being used to help employees deal with caregiving responsibilities. One study estimates that by 2025, EAPs will be assisting more than 3 million people in the US alone with caregiving. This highlights the growing importance of EAPs in supporting employees who are looking after elderly relatives.
 
Caregiver Training and Support

Some businesses offer caregiver training and support programmes. These are designed to help employees who are providing care to an elderly relative. Caregiver training and support programmes can provide employees with advice and guidance on the best ways to care for their relative. They can also help employees to navigate the complex healthcare system and obtain benefits. This can include helping employees obtain government benefits such as Medicaid and Medicare. Businesses can also provide employees with practical assistance. This could include providing them with a list of recommended care providers or helping them to find a neighbour to help with housework when they’re caring for their relatives.
 
Advantages of having a supportive workplace

Businesses that actively support their employees looking after elderly relatives can benefit in a number of ways. Better work-life balance: Supporting employees looking after elderly relatives can help to improve work-life balance, which has been found to have a positive impact on productivity. Less absenteeism: Employees who have elderly relatives at home are likely to have less time available to care for them, which can lead to absenteeism at work if they take time off to look after their relatives. Therefore, by providing support for employees looking after elderly relatives, businesses can reduce absenteeism. Improved employee retention: When employees feel supported, they are more likely to feel grateful to their employer. Stronger sense of loyalty: When employees feel supported, they are more likely to feel grateful to their employer, which can lead to a stronger sense of loyalty.
 
Conclusion

​As the population ages, businesses are increasingly likely to face employees who are dealing with elderly relatives. Businesses should do more to support these workers by offering flexible working hours and financial and practical support. By supporting employees looking after elderly relatives, businesses can benefit from improved work-life balance, less absenteeism and a stronger sense of loyalty from their workforce. Ultimately, supporting employees looking after elderly relatives is not just a moral imperative but also a practical business decision.
 
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