Balancing Act

Bob DeMarco writes on the all too common problem of balancing work and a personal life with caregiving. Statistics show that many caregivers find themselves leaving work early, or calling in to work entirely. Moderate to high levels of stress are also prevalent for working caregivers. Often, workers are spending their vacation time on those in their care. The concern is about stress, and it’s effects on work productivity and interpersonal relationships, and the ability to care properly for those who need it.

More than 80 percent of Baby Boomers said they feel moderate to high levels of stress related to the care or support they are giving to children, spouses and/or parents.

In addition, nearly half of young Baby Boomers surveyed (46.6 percent) reported feeling worried about how caregiving is impacting their job. It was their No. 1 concern, while older Baby Boomers, who are 55 and older, were most concerned about postponing retirement as a result of their role as caregiver.

Younger Baby Boomers’ worries could be linked to the fact that more than half of this group (68 percent) said they have missed work or left early from work due to their caregiving duties in the last six months. Half of those workers said they missed eight to 16 hours of work in the previous six month.

“A day or two of work might not seem like much,” Campbell noted. “But in today’s business environment of streamlined workforces, any absence can impact productivity.”
More than three-quarters of Baby Boomers reported taking up to 16 hours of paid vacation time to care for another person.

“Our research found that while many Baby Boomers are under pressure on all sides, they are using their paid time-off as an extension of their hectic lives rather than a vacation,” Campbell said.

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