Caregiving and work, the final frontier

💼 WORK, WORK, WORK

Consider this:

• Americans clocked an average of 1,796 hours annually at work. This amounts to 465 more hours than Germans and 389 more than Norwegians. We are the only “developed” economy with no mandated paid vacation.

• In a 2025 study of 8,750 people, 10% care for a parent age 65 or older.

Now, if you aren’t already, imagine yourself as a caregiver for an older adult. Everyday you find out something you wish you already knew about caregiving.

One day, you find yourself traveling for work. Out of no where comes heartbreaking news about your parent. They’re in the hospital. You are miles away and you have no idea what is happening or how you will get to your loved one.

It feels awful under any circumstance. When you are far away, it feels even worse.

I’ve found myself in this situation and so has Debra Whitman. While traveling for work, she learned her father was suddenly admitted to the hospital. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but she knew she had to get to her father.

Debra works for AARP, which offers caregiving paid time off. She was able to take several days off to get her father settled. She is fortunate. Many of us are not.

At the heart of the problem is the nature of caregiving. The value of unpaid caregiving labor is estimated at $683 billion dollars!

“The challenge is that leave isn’t unlimited. The average caregiving role spans about six years. So really, it’s a life change for these employees, and they need to figure out how to balance responsibilities in a new way, and that’s very stressful,” states Meghan Shea from New York Life Group Benefit Solutions.

✅ OPTIONS ARE THE REAL FLEX (BENEFIT)

During my caregiving journey, I wanted understanding from my employers and accessible tools to help me navigate caregiving.

Today, some employers are recognizing this need. They offer caregivers tangible options to meet their needs.

• Workplaces are prioritizing flexible schedules, backup care, counseling, and return-to-work programs.

• Others offer “care concierges” that help employees find providers, navigate benefits, and care systems.

These benefits make it possible for employers to retain employees that genuinely want to remain in their roles. While it isn’t always possible for caregivers, many very much want to continue in their roles despite caregiving responsibilities.

It is important for employers to know caregiving employees care and want to be productive. And, it’s mutually beneficial. The cost of replacing an employee can range from 50% to 200% of their annual salary, depending on their level.

✨SHOWING UP MATTERS

Does caregiving matter? Absolutely. The sacrifices I made, the years of showing up for something I didn’t understand, the emotional rollercoaster, and even the pain mattered. The experience gave me more years with my Mother and an unfathomable depth of compassion and understanding.

I channel my journey into every aspect of my life.

For example, my current workplace did not have a consistent leave policy. I found this unsettling. I oversee a team of four and learned two people experienced very different leave experiences.

When I learned there was an opportunity for senior leaders to help shape a policy that would I apply to every state, I volunteered to help. Now, we have a policy that ensures everyone can access three to six months of leave for themselves or to care for family.

Leave policies are an employer’s opportunity to advocate for employee care.

I constantly check on family and friends. And, I do drop a reminder or a few about caring for each other. Once a caregiver, always a caregiver.

When I have someone’s ear (this includes you, dear reader), I’ll say my favorite saying, “preparation is self-care.” You matter.

If you are a caregiver, you are doing all the hard things. And, if you are not a caregiver, your support matters to caregivers of all stripes.

One an advocacy organization, Caring Across Generations, launched a Care Conversation Campaign. If you feel comfortable sharing your caregiving journey, you can do so here. I’ll chat more about it in our next edition.