As people live longer, more workers will become part of the “sandwich generation.” Women, in particular, are often tasked with trying to hold down a job while raising children and caring for a parent, or parents, at the same time. Naturally, that expectation leads to decreased opportunities for women and caregivers in the workforce — one of many drivers of the diversity dilemma.
While the "kupuna" law is a state-provided benefit, employers can recognize caregivers’ struggles, and many are offering benefits to ease the strain. A third of the U.S. population reportedly cares for a family member, devoting about 20 hours a week to the task. A survey by Northeast Business Group on Health and AARP shows that caregiving is among the top 10 priorities for employee health and wellness benefits.
Caregiving benefits can be a competitive recruitment and retention tool to attract “sandwich generation” job seekers. Such benefits can include flexible work arrangements, onsite or subsidized child care and eldercare consultants. Providing paid time off could be another powerful benefit that serves as both retention tool and values signal.
"Employers want to make sure they have a healthy and productive workforce and retain and attract employees," said Candice Sherman, CEO of the Northeast Business Group on Health, an employer-based coalition. "So an attractive benefits package is obviously a plus."
As more employees self-identify as caregivers for family members and friends, employers are starting to address the needs of workers who struggle to balance work while caring for others. The numbers are staggering. One in six U.S. employees identify as a caregiver for a family member or friend, according to research by Family Caregiver Alliance. An AARP study found that U.S. businesses lose more than $25 billion annually in lost productivity due to absenteeism among full-time working caregivers, and that figure grows an additional $3 billion when part-time workers with caregiving duties are accounted for.
To help employers get a jump start on creating caregiver-friendly workplaces, AARP and the Northeast Business Group on Health have produced a free online tool kit, chock-full of ideas and examples, expert resources and an assessment tool to gauge how well they're doing in providing assistance. Employers can find the tool at workandcaregiving.org.
Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH) and AARP launched a free guide called “Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Employers.” The guide, the human resources industry’s first publication of its kind, contains tools, resources, and guidance to help employers of all sizes create workplace policies to help support employees who are family caregivers.
The [Northeast Business] Group on Health has teamed up with AARP to offer businesses a new guide to help them support employees with family caregiving duties. One in six U.S. employees is a caregiver today for a relative or friend, according to research by Family Caregiver Alliance, and U.S. businesses face more than $25 billion annually in lost productivity due to absenteeism among full-time working caregivers, according to the AARP. Click here to access the free guide.
Employers can use several strategies to mitigate cost and health issues associated with workers’ musculoskeletal disorders, the Northeast Business Group on Health suggests in a report issued Sept. 21. A March 2016 study released by the United States Bone and Joint Initiative estimated that half of all Americans have a musculoskeletal condition, including arthritis and back pain. The annual costs for treatment, care and lost wages total $213 billion.
Employers can better manage the health and cost burdens of musculoskeletal disorders by implementing prevention strategies such as ergonomics training and movement-friendly workplace design, providing onsite physical therapy for those with acute or chronic pain, and paying for surgery with bundled pricing, says a new report from Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH).
The Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH) says employers can help curb costs associated with musculoskeletal disorders through both prevention and proper treatment. Ergonomics, joint-friendly workplace design, onsite physical therapy and value-based surgical approaches can improve workplace health, boost productivity and cut healthcare costs, according to the group's new report, Preventing and Treating Musculoskeletal Disorders: New Strategies for Employers.
A recent survey by Northeast Business Group on Health and AARP included caregiving on a list of 10 top priorities for employee health and wellness benefits. Most employers predict that it will become an increasingly important issue among employees in the next five years, according to the research.