Bringing your whole self to work is a nice thought in theory, but for many, it's an impossible exercise and oftentimes not as beneficial as managers think it is. Every workplace should strive to have an inclusive culture where employees are comfortable being themselves. Still, there are some things nobody will ever feel comfortable sharing with their boss or fellow employees. Yet, that doesn't mean those hardships should be ignored. Caregivers already make up a huge portion of the workforce, with over 53 million US adults currently caring for a loved one. However, because caregiving is a very personal struggle it's rarely made known in the workplace. So how can employers still support these employees even when it's impossible for them to bring their whole selves to work?

Identify the common stressors caregivers face.

For most caregivers, their responsibilities often resemble a time commitment equivalent to taking on another full-time job, on top of their primary employment. From juggling siblings and care professionals to tracking and splitting every minor cost, it can be incredibly time-consuming. And since business hours are typically standard across every industry, a lot of these tasks typically need to happen during the workday. Caregivers are often some of the most driven employees, given their external fiscal responsibilities to family members and loved ones. However, even the most organized individuals are bound to experience burnout.

Knowing this, an employer's job shouldn't be to punish this loss in productivity but instead, help ease the burden of the root of the cause. The average caregiver spends roughly 24 hours weekly and $7,300 out of pocket annually on their care duties. Caregiving puts an incredible strain on every aspect of a caregiver's life, and the last place they need additional stress from is their job.