Your Voice Matters
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We need your voice on the importance of inclusivity of caregivers in the workplace.
We need both caregivers and allies.
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Could you participate the following ways?
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See below for ways to help. We understand that most of our volunteers have very full lives. We believe in meeting people where they are, and we are grateful for what each person can give - even in small or intermittent portions. Let us know how you would be interested in helping the cause of inclusivity of employed caregivers, being a hero for the heroes.
Consider Volunteering
Advocate at Work
Caregiver Discrimination
Psychological Safety
Empowerment
Flexibility
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Training
Speak Up
Support
Celebrate
Employed caregiver discrimination and stigma can be often happen in the shadows. Learn how to identify it and bring it to light, the initial step in creating a more inclusive workplace.
Work to create a culture with psychological safety by allowing people to share - without marginalization - about the struggle fulfilling the dual responsibilities of work and caregiving.
Instead of assuming what an employed caregiver needs or wants, ask them. Each caregiver has their own unique needs, from reducing hours to feeling increased financial pressure to earn a raise, from needing full remote to wanting in-person time to experience a break.
Imagine the possibilities to infuse greater flexibility in your workplace - without stigmatizing those who take it. Flex time and remote work are gamechangers for caregivers. If this is not possible, strive to allow people to exchange shifts when needed.
Incorporate caregiver inclusivity training in DEI (diversity-equity-inclusion) training. Take special care to train supervisors, as they have been proven to have one of the biggest factors for employed caregiver outcomes - either negative or positive.
Allies are critical in speaking up against discrimination and for greater flexibility. Caregivers often cannot speak up because 1) it puts them at risk for greater marginalization; 2) the person for whom they care might depend on their financial support or insurance; 3) they risk losing FMLA rights or other needed benefits if they change jobs.
Build caregiving supports into any mental health, family, or identity-based supports that are offered. Provide a space for community building and story sharing to offer a best-in-class workplace, retaining and attracting the best talent.
Build a recognition of the positive attributes that caregivers have developed and can bring to the workplace through post-traumatic growth. A 'trial by fire' has often given these individuals valuable qualities that enable them to be ideal employees and leaders.