According to new research conducted by the Ibec employers’ group, considerable proportions of individuals attempting to balance professional duties with caring duties are suffering negative effects on their mental wellbeing and finances. The study, involving 1,200 individuals aged between 25 and 65, discovered that approximately 50% of participants claimed to be the primary caregiver, with one in four of these individuals revealing that their care was mainly provided to an adult.
The research found that 63% of those identifying as caregivers were concurrently employed and a significant 73% admitted finding it tough to juggle the two roles. A similar proportion, 67%, disclosed that work offered them some respite from their caregiving duties.
The study also revealed that the caregiving responsibilities had a detrimental impact on their jobs, with 31% acknowledging this had hampered their work performance, and 38% saying it had adversely impacted their professional progression.
The negative effects also extended to mental health and financial standing, with 63% and 57% of respondents respectively reporting impacts in these areas. Whilst the majority, 57%, recognised their employer’s efforts to accommodate their caregiving responsibilities, only 29% were aware of policies by the company in relation to the issue. Interestingly, only 21% reported having received paid leave to assist with their situation.
The research warns that Ireland’s ageing population and rising number of people with caregiving duties could potentially affect the supply of competent workers remaining in full-time employment. The research prompts the government and employers to offer additional support. Primarily, it will be women who will be impacted.
The study suggests that approximately 7.7 million women across Europe are effectively unable to participate in the workforce due to caregiver obligations. In Ireland, the demographic profile of net recipients of carer’s benefit payments is indeed 80% comprised of women.
Family Carers Ireland conducted a research revealing skilled workers were making professional sacrifices such as accepting less employment, reducing work hours, missing career advancements, and altering job roles, to cope with caregiving responsibilities.
Ahead of a referendum, expected to legally recognise the role of carers more officially, the report recommends an evaluation and enhancement of the financial aids and benefits extended to family carers. Investing more in the professional sector to deliver much-needed respite and day care assistance, and providing recruitment and retention aid for employers, is also suggested. In addition, employers should consider offering more flexible options to employees who have caregiving responsibilities, to ensure their support, as recommended by the report.
Dr Kara McGann, leader of skills and social strategy at Ibec, states that the escalating longevity of Irish citizens carries both pivotal benefits and significant complications due to the increased demand for care. Care amenities should not only be easy to access and cost-effective, but also sufficiently adaptive to cater to the evolving demographic requirements of the nation.
Both the government and business organisations have a paramount duty to enhance the support for people requiring care and those offering auxiliary care services. The extensive waiting periods for access to home care and other community services underscore a sizeable disparity between the urgency and provision of adequate amenities.
McGann emphasizes the necessity of increasing government investment, bolstering recruitment and retention rates, and introducing a more accommodative approach toward the provision of support. Failing to implement these measures could potentially lead to significant implications for the employment market. Furthermore, employers can take the initiative to future-proof their work environments by ensuring support systems are readily available to working caregivers to help them stay connected to the employment market.
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