Compatibility of Employment and Caregiving -Initiatives for the Improvement of the Situation of Working Carers

Abstract

Purpose: This study meant to assess the compatibility of gainful employment and caregiving, and potential approaches for its promotion. The main aim of this study was to identify initiatives for working caregivers across Europe, and to expose examples of good practice. Method: An exploratory literature research was conducted using a broad range of international studies. In addition, information provided by carer support organisations were considered. Results: Compared with the issues “childcare and work-life-balance”, a reduced amount of research has been conducted regarding the compatibility of employment and caregiving especially across Europe. Only a small number of studies focussing on workplace policies and programs across European companies has been carried out. With respect to the compatibility the literature review has revealed a bi-directional interaction between caregiving and employment. Further, evidence indicates that although gainfull employment causes various concerns for carers it can also have protective effects on carers’ health. One key factor to enable carers in successfully combining paid work with caring are flexible work arrangements. Even though the UK appears to be very innovative concerning policies explicitly dedicated to carers in employment, workplace initiatives are not widespread across Europe yet. Conclusion: Workplace initiatives are a significant instrument for the support of caregiving employess, can prevent them from giving up paid work, and support carers who wish to return to employment respectively. Since comprehensive workplace policies have been rather neglected their implementation need to be promoted. The utilisation by carers of workplace initiatives in place appears to be a critical issue, so that particular emphasis has to be put on ensuring that workplace measures actually meet carer’s needs. This implies the need for a participative approach in tailoring programs including a careful evaluation by caregiving employees. Furthermore, a culture endorsing carers’ support needs to be prevalent among all hierarchies within the company including colleagues.