To address the growing prevalence of caregivers in the nation and the workplace, Northeast Business Group on Health and AARP have collaborated on a first-of-its-kind instructional resource on caregivers for HR departments.
"Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Employers" is the latest in a series of caregiving initiatives created by the two organizations and offers employers guidance on creating policies to support caregivers in their workplace.
"Family caregiving is an issue that affects the vast majority of us. We are either caregivers now, have been in the past, will be in the future or will need care ourselves," AARP Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond said in a press release. "Of today's 40 million family caregivers, 24 million are juggling caregiving responsibilities and employment. By recognizing and supporting their needs, employers can improve productivity and foster a stable and healthy workforce. It is great to see so many leading employers open to understanding this issue better, and we are pleased to be working together to help America's family caregivers."
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According to AARP data, U.S. employers loose more than $25 billion annually due to lost productivity among working caregivers. The new guide can help employers combat this loss with new caregiver policies and programs and offers suggestions for creating a caregiver-friendly workplace as well as getting buy-in from management.
"The idea that life can get in the way of work is nothing new for employers," said Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH, and Executive Director of NEBGH's Solutions Center. "Many companies have sought to be responsive to employees' family obligations by crafting generous maternity and parental leave policies, and by redefining how sick days can be used. But caring intermittently or on a long-term basis for aging or ill relatives or friends is often seen as a different proposition and creates different challenges and issues. This guide gives employers the tools and resources they need to develop and promote caregiving benefits."
The guide is available free to all employers and the public.
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
