Any employer can tell you that the burden of elder care doesn’t fall on family members alone. It extends to their bosses and coworkers as well.
According to a MetLife study from 2006, 7 million Americans are providing intensive care to an adult while working full time. The strain of their responsibilities costs their employers $17.1 billion each year. If you include all caregivers (intensive and nonintensive alike), the cost jumps to $33.6 billion, including
- $6.6 billion to replace employees who quit work because of their caregiving responsibilities.
- $5.1 billion due to full-day absences.
- $1.9 billion due to partial-day absences.
- $6.3 billion due to workday interruptions.
- $3.8 billion due to eldercare crises such as moving a loved one to a different living situation, dealing with hospitalization, or arranging services.
- $1.8 billion in supervisor time to support caregiver employees.
- $3.8 billion finding replacements when caregivers take unpaid leave.
- $4.8 billion when employees move from full time to part time.
Certainly no one is happy about the situation. Millions of responsible workers regret having to take days off or spend work hours on the phone to handle family emergencies. They don’t want to come in late or leave early to make sure everything gets done, they don’t want to cut back on their hours and responsibilities, and they don’t want to retire early.
They feel they have no choice, but maybe they’re mistaken. Stay at Home can be both a lifesaver for overburdened families and a prudent investment for employers.
With us around, employees can get to work unworried and on time, confident that we’re making sure their mom or dad is getting up, taking their medications on schedule, and having a healthy breakfast. The help lasts all day long. We’re the ones who get parents to doctor’s appointments and bridge games. We’re the ones who make sure the kitchen is cleaned up and the house is tidy. And we’re there to provide some friendly company, because no one likes being lonely.
Whether you’re a business that feels you’re losing a valued employee or a family caregiver who feels you’re losing your mind, send us a message or give us a call at 888–791–8449.