Corporate Compassion Care for the Sandwich Generation Workforce
Have you considered your organization’s compassion in the lives of employees who are also caregivers?
Thunderbird School of Global Management says, “Compassion is empathy in action. It isn’t just a shared feeling with a person or community; it’s acting with consideration, care, and relational understanding to come together and help alleviate distress or solve a problem.”
With a significant portion of the workforce caring for aging relatives, how does your corporate culture show compassion and support these dual-role professionals?
73% of all employees have some current caregiving responsibility.
23% of U.S. adults are now part of the “sandwich generation.” This group includes Adults with a parent aged 65 or older who are raising at least one child younger than 18 or providing financial support to an adult child.
When it comes to who needs to receive care, older adults lead at 41%, which stands to reason given Americans’ generally longer lifespans.
Working caregivers are two times more likely to experience their own disability-related leave of absence.
Corporate care for compassionate caregiving is emerging as a critical aspect of employee support, reflecting a company’s dedication to its people in the workplace.
The importance of building a robust support system for employee caregivers highlights how fostering a caring corporate environment can lead to a healthier, more engaged, and resilient workforce.
The Growing Trend of Employee Caregivers
The modern workforce is evolving in many ways, and a compelling phenomenon is emerging: the increasing number of employee caregivers.
- By 2030, the entire Baby Boomer generation will be older than 65, and older Americans will make up 21% of the population.
- More than 1 in 6 Americans working full-time or part-time report assisting with caring for an elderly or disabled family member, relative, or friend.
- Reports show that 59% of the entire labor force — approximately 90 million workers lack – office, remote, or hybrid work options.
The Sandwich Generation’s employee caregivers are navigating their career demands while caring for their aging parents and children.
Recognizing this phenomenon is essential for you, the business leader, because your acknowledgment highlights the diverse challenges these employees face, impacting everything from company culture to operational efficiency.
Their dual responsibilities shape their engagement at work and show the evolving needs of a modern workforce.
Almost a quarter (22%) of individuals must split their time between full-time work and caregiving duties, which often include medical and nursing tasks—effectively pulling double duty.
In 2020, caregivers spent an average of nine hours per week providing care. In 2023, that has increased to 26 hours per week. Almost half spend 10–29 hours of their week devoted to caregiving, and 27% spend 30 hours or more providing care.
Because many caregiving responsibilities can only be accomplished during regular business hours, employees can often be less engaged because they need to spend at least part of their workday:
- Setting up healthcare appointments
- Consulting with doctors
- Arranging deliveries
- Dealing with emergencies
- Coordinating care
- Serving as an advocate on behalf of the person in their care
These statistics illustrate how employee caregivers are shouldering the ever-increasing burden of breadwinners and caregivers. This trend signals the changing dynamics in our society and rings the alarm for business leaders to take action.
There was a time when supporting employee caregivers was a fringe benefit, but no longer. Today and in the future, supporting these Sandwich Generation employees is a strategic imperative that can influence a business’s overall productivity by engaging employees, influencing talent retention, and increasing positive brand awareness.
Businesses that create an environment where the Sandwich Generation can thrive without choosing between professional growth and their responsibilities will cultivate a loyal, productive workforce and foster a culture of inclusivity and understanding.
There are compelling reasons why supporting employee caregivers is a strategic advantage for businesses.
Why Support Employee Caregivers
Acknowledging the real-life scenarios that play out in the lives of a large segment of the workforce is both a moral imperative and a strategic one.
Companies approaching this challenge with empathy and winning tactics can reap numerous benefits, from improved employee morale and retention to increased brand awareness and enhanced productivity.
Issues to be considered when implementing compassionate care for working caregivers include the following:
- Forty-one percent of caregivers report low overall well-being — 32% more than non-caregivers.
- One in 5 caregivers has taken a leave of absence and/or a demotion to accommodate their caregiving duties.
- 29% of caregivers have had to reduce their work hours as opposed to only 14% of non-caregivers.
- Twenty-seven percent of caregivers were out of work for at least 30 days last year due to a condition, illness, or injury, compared to only 14% of non-caregivers.
- The direct economic effect of the need for caregiving is estimated at nearly $44 billion through the loss of more than 650,000 jobs and almost 800,000 caregivers suffering from absenteeism issues at work.
According to an AARP study from December 2020, the groundwork for understanding the impact on the work-life balance of workforce caregivers. These caregivers continue to make substantial adjustments to their employment because of their caregiving responsibilities:
- 53% needed to modify their work schedule, such as going in late, leaving early, or taking time off.
- 15% had to reduce their working hours.
- 14% took leaves of absence.
- 8% faced performance or attendance warnings.
- 7% declined promotions.
- 6% left the workforce entirely.
- 5% opted for early retirement.
- 4% lost job benefits.
Many employees don’t feel comfortable talking about their caregiving at work because they’re worried about appearing less valuable and that it will keep them from being considered for a promotion. Unlike companies that are responsive to family situations such as pregnancy and maternity leave, employees caring for senior loved ones aren’t considered the same way.
The reality reflected in these statistics is a call for corporate empathy and compassion care through actionable support. Your company can foster a more supportive workplace to mitigate the challenges and strengthen your organization.
Compassion Care Strategies For Your Organization
Through thoughtful HR policies, community engagement, and fostering connections with local aging-in-place services, your business can create a supportive environment for your employee caregivers in the Sandwich Generation.
Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a caregiver-supportive workplace. Still, you can commit to making changes to produce a more compassionate care environment where caregivers’ needs are heard.
- Reduce the stigma around caregiving in your organization while encouraging a work-life balance.
- Provide additional family leave and paid sick days
- Have resources available from counseling to support services such as aging-in-place organizations
- Set up volunteering programs that allow employees to spend time and serve seniors and their families. Volunteers are always needed in the senior community.
- Use your company resources to advocate with your local and state government to help working caregivers.
- Donate to your local senior services, including aging-in-place organizations. The need for funding continues.
Starting to use your company to organize volunteering opportunities, advocate for, and donate to senior services and your local aging-in-place organization can help reduce the burden of caregiving for your employees.
By helping your Sandwich Generation employees, you can improve their mental and physical health, maximize their productivity, attract and retain talent, reduce operating costs, and build your brand image.
A Final Thought
Your company has the opportunity to lead with compassion and action, making the lives of the working caregivers in your organization more manageable and less stressful.
By implementing strategies that support your Sandwich Generation employees, you enhance their well-being and drive your company forward. The commitment to create a compassionate care environment starts with listening and responding to the needs of caregivers in your workforce.
As you work to cultivate this compassionate culture, remember that organizations like DSCC and other aging-in-place organizations in your area are ready to partner with you and share their expertise and resources to help your employees and their senior loved ones.
Contact DSCC today or your local aging-in-place organization to learn more about this phenomenon and consider donating money, volunteering time, and advocating these essential services.
Sources
- Thunderbird School of Global Management, Compassion in business: why it matters and how to practice it, May 2023
- Guardian, Standing Up and Stepping In
- Pew Research Center, More than half of Americans in their 40s are ‘sandwiched’ between an aging parent and their children. April 2022
- American Documentary, Family and Caregiving: The Challenge of Caring for Our Elders
- Nextavenue, Workplace Caregiving: One Size Does Not Fit All, April 2024
- AARP, How Caregiving Affects Your Workforce
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