Combining Work and Eldercare: A Neglected Work-Life Balance Issue

Abstract

Discussions about "work-life balance" and "family-friendly workplaces" mainly focus on working parents with young children. Employees who care for and support older relatives receive much less attention. But this issue will grow in importance as the population ages and labour shortages encourage middle-aged people to be fully involved in the workforce. As life expectancy increases many working people have parents in their eighties and nineties, often in need of care and support. How do they balance work and eldercare? A research project on working carers involved the employees of Wellington and Christchurch City Councils and found that about one in ten had eldercare responsibilities. Questionnaires and focus groups provided information on the type and extent of eldercare and how it is managed alongside work commitments. Such responsibilities can add to workers· stress and have an impact on productivity. Suggestions for employers arose from the study, including the need to develop policies on eldercare responsibilities among their staff as an emerging priority.