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Kim Johnson ReportingMore than 100-thousand Utahns juggle work and caring for an aging parent or a disabled family member, and this number is only expected to grow. Now there's a campaign to make employers more aware of and helpful to employees who have care giving responsibilities.
Caregivers who also work cost U.S. employers 29 billion dollars every year in lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover. Sometimes the stress is so great the caregiver dies before the recipient does. Sonnie Yudell says it's time for employers to reach out to employees who often suffer extreme stress in silence.
Sonnie Yudell, Dept. of Human Services: "Oftentimes they're hesitant to bring up care giving responsibilities to their employer for fear that they'll look like they're not able to do their job. In this market this is a concern."
Yudell want to see more employers offer flexible work hours and educational support.
Sonnie Yudell, Dept. of Human Services: "It could be as basic as a lunch and learn activity so that they have somebody come in that could talk to them about care-giving responsibilities and where they can get assistance."
Yudell says companies can also help their employees by creating a resource library in their Human Resources department. ARUP Laboratories is one company that tries to assist employees by offering flexible hours, family medical leave and long-term care insurance.
Barbara Kalantzes, ARUP Laboratories: "We're looking at a support group. We're also going to be doing some education for managers and supervisors because we need their support to recognize when an employee is having a problem because they're dealing with a lot of stress."
Because she once cared for her mother and mother-in-law, and worked, Barbara Kalantzes says she's sensitive to the extreme stress care giving employees experience.
Barbara Kalantzes: "And when we do sit down we have a lot of tears in this office if they're dealing with care giving, because it's an absolute roller-coaster ride. Emotionally and physically it's a roller-coaster ride."
Ucare.utah.gov is a website that has all kinds of available resources and help for caregivers. If you don't have a computer, the same information can be found by calling the statewide information bank 2-1-1.
