Employers and Respite

Employee caregivers in the workplace responsible for a loved one with a disability or a chronic medical condition are often forced to make accommodations when it comes to work-life balance.

When it becomes difficult to balance caregiving with work, or if the demands of work come into conflict with one’s caregiving responsibilities, some caregivers make changes to their work situation. Six in 10 caregivers report having to make a workplace accommodation as a result of caregiving, such as cutting back on their working hours, taking a leave of absence, receiving a warning about performance or attendance, or other such impacts.

Work Impacts Due to Caregiving

Go in late, leave early, take time off
Leave of absence
Reduce work hours
Take less demanding job
Receive warning about performance/attendance
Give up working entirely
Turn down promotion
Retired early
Lose job benefits

The Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network is dedicated to informing employers of public and private resources to best support your caregiving employees. Our goal is to minimize the impact to employers from the risks of lower productivity, absenteeism, higher healthcare costs, and decreased retention. By being aware of respite resources that provide a break for working caregivers, respite care helps them perform at their highest levels and manage the demands of both work and family caregiving of a loved one with special needs.

To address the growing needs of employees who also have family caregiving responsibilities, the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network offers a Working Caregiver Survey. This anonymous, no-cost, web-based survey helps employers and their employees understand the scope and needs of working caregivers as they strive to create healthy and supportive workplaces. The Working Caregiver Survey is aiming to help employers understand the prevalence and needs of their employees who have caregiving responsibilities, and providing a framework for responding to those needs.

Working Caregiver Survey