Next Stage Planning

Employer

The National Alliance of Caregiving and AARP estimate that 21 percent of all U.S. households provide care for an adult family member. Nearly 60 percent of those caring for an adult over the age of 50 are working: the majority of those work full-time.

The responsibility of caring for an aging parent, or disabled loved one can create long-term problems in the workplace. Caregivers often underestimate the time required for care giving and the impact of their obligation on their work. Without the proper support, these family caregivers make informal adjustments to their work schedules such as:

• Making phone calls during paid work hours
• Arriving late or leaving early
• Taking personal time during the day
• "Water-cooler time" - talking about their issues with other co-workers creating two or more employees who are not working efficiently

Human Resource professionals often are aware of the formal adjustments to work schedules, however these adjustments affect your company's productivity and bottom line as much if not more than the informal adjustments mentioned above. Many family caregivers have made adjustments to their work schedules in the following way:

• Use of sick days or vacation days
• Request to decrease work hours or receive a leave of absence
• Change status from full- to part-time hours
• Quit the job completely
• Retire early

Nearly 40% of those surveyed in the 1999 MetLife study said that care giving affected their ability to advance in the job in one or more of the following ways:

• 29% passed up a job promotion, training or assignment
• 25% passed up an opportunity for job transfer or relocation
• 22% were not able to acquire new job skills
• 13% were not able to keep up with changes in necessary job skills.

As an employer, you know these statistics impact the bottom line of your business. Many companies have recognized over the years the need for benefits that help employees with small children. The time consuming care is no different for an aging parent. Many employers are adding benefits such as Professional Care Management Services to their benefit portfolios.

Partnering with a Care Manager is a win-win situation for you as the employer as well as your employees. The Care Manager will provide the care for the aging parent or disabled loved one while the employee is busy working for you, knowing everything is being taken care of at home. A Care Manager is also available to educate your employees on various topics that may be of concerns to them.

Employers have many options depending on your size, budget and demographic of your workforce. Contact us to find a Care Manager today for a tailored plan to increase productivity in your company.