Free Webinar and Resources: Supporting Family Caregivers in the Workplace

November 18, 2017 | Kathy Anderson

Kathy Anderson; Vice President, Member Development and Programs; ABI

I have the incredible opportunity to meet regularly with members of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. We hear frequently that workforce is the primary concern. So it was a pleasure to offer programming recently featuring two outstanding ABI member companies—Kreg Tool and Principal—on one aspect of how they support their workforce.

ABI partnered with AARP Iowa and John and Teri Hale to provide the webinar, “Supporting Family Caregivers in the Workplace,” earlier this week. The goal of the program was to identify practical tips and resources for employers to create a caregiving-friendly culture.

The statistics are alarming. Six out of 10 family caregivers are employed full-time and may also spend 20 to 40 additional hours per week on caregiving tasks for their loved one(s). Their dual roles can adversely affect business if the burden leads to greater absenteeism, diminished productivity, declining morale and requests to reduce work hours. The National Alliance for Caregiving estimates the cost of lost productivity to U.S. employers due to family caregiver obligations is as high as $34 billion annually.

If you missed it, you can still view the webinar and obtain free resources for employers and employees. Polly Heinen, assistant director of benefits at Principal Financial Group, and Stephanie Gott, vice president of human resources at Kreg Tool Company, shared their perspectives and examples of how their companies are offering unique opportunities for employees who are also full-time caregivers. I encourage you to check it out.