Friday, August 9, 2019

Stuck in the Middle

Women lose a lot of time off work caring for others, compared to men.

Even in couples where both the man and woman work, women bear the brunt of the responsibility for childcare in their early careers and eldercare in their later careers. Approximately 93 percent of elderly Canadians live at home, and informal caregivers such as their children provide 75 percent of their care. That amounts to $24 to $31 billion in unpaid work per year.

The career costs can be large for caregivers, particularly women. While 43 percent of Canadians providing eldercare are men, among children providing care, the work is often divided along gender lines. Women do more of the personal care, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and coordinating of appointments—much of which is time-sensitive and may need to occur during the typical work day. Men do more indoor and outdoor maintenance work—tasks that can be done after work. This means that among working Canadians caring for their parents, women lose 30 percent more time off work.

A new study of workers over age 40 found that compared to men, women who are caring for elderly individuals in their families are

73 percent more likely to permanently leave work;
five times more likely to be working part time;
twice as likely to take time off during the week;
likely to take off about 2.5 hours more per week if they do take time off.

“Not only are these women in their peak earning years, they have enormous experience,” says Pat Irwin, president of ElderCareCanada. “And chances are that the workplace has invested a lot in them, but they have to leave. They can’t make it work. It’s pretty sad.”

What can employers do? As much as possible. Provide flexible working arrangements and offer leaves of absence to help employees balance their work-life.

What can working caregivers do? Don’t feel that you need to do everything on your own. Seek help from others whenever possible—and don’t feel guilty for asking. Talk with your family and be prepared before a crisis hits.

“Just like you would prepare for childbirth, you need to prepare for eldercare,” says Susan Hyatt, chief executive officer of Silver Sherpa Inc. “If you’re between the ages of 40 and 65, and you’ve got parents—get ready.”

Sources: Globe and Mail, Institute for Work & Health

Stuck in the Middle

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