By Barbara Small, Program Development Coordinator, Family Caregivers of BC
Approximately 70% of the one million family caregivers in BC are balancing the demands of caregiving with working full or part-time. This can result in caregivers quitting their jobs, retiring early, cutting back on hours, turning down promotions, and losing pension contributions. Employers experience higher absenteeism rates, more lateness, and lower productivity.
If you are juggling the demands of work and caregiving, here are some ideas that might help:
- Talk to your employer, manager, or human resources representative about your situation and your needs related to caregiving.
- Flexibility is essential for many caregivers to respond to emergencies or periods of intense caregiving demands. Explore options available in your workplace, such as flextime, a compressed workweek, reduced hours, job sharing, a leave of absence, gradual retirement, or working from home. Even if these options have not been used before, your employer may still be open to considering them now.
- On the other hand, you may prefer a set work schedule to help you plan for appointments and arrange home support or respite.
- There are likely other family caregivers in your workplace facing similar challenges. Consider creating your own support group at work. You could meet during lunch to share challenges and successes or set up an online platform to share resources, tips, and questions with each other.
- Compassionate Care Benefits are available through Employment Insurance for employed family members caring for a gravely ill relative at risk of dying. These benefits provide a set amount of total compensation per terminally ill family member, plus two weeks of an unpaid waiting period. For more information, visit the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
- Some employee benefits, such as extended health benefits and employee and family assistance programs, may extend to dependents and can help with family caregiving responsibilities. The workplace benefits available to you as a family caregiver may not be obvious or well-known, even to your manager. You may need to do some research with your manager or human resources department to learn about the benefits and options available and how they apply to your situation.
- Make a list of what you need help with and when you need it. Determine what other family members can do and which outside services need to be brought in.
- Familiarize yourself with community resources that are available to help you. Contact the Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line 1-877-520-3267 for more information.
Remember, balancing work and caregiving can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. By exploring flexible work options, utilizing available benefits, and seeking support from your workplace and community, you can create a more manageable caregiving experience. Take the time to prioritize your well-being and reach out for the help you need—both at work and at home