Reimagining family leave policies for caregiving during the pandemic is critical for working women.
The landscape revealed is both encouraging and sobering.
Flexible schedules are the new work week.
Not surprisingly, researchers found companies are embracing flexibility, allowing telework and nontraditional hours.
But the follow-up research found troubling discrepancies between support for parents and caregivers of adults.
The pandemic has heightened caregiving duties.
Nearly 30% of respondents reported a strong increase in stress, and 43% reported a moderate increase.
While the researchers identified the burden facing women, they also acknowledged the toll on men.
Yet the report points to a looming disaster for women.
Additionally, the pandemic has led companies to rethink the work week.
Caregiving-friendly leave policies support the bottom line.
Recognition is growing that generous policies, including offering family friendly benefits, produce higher returns.
The perception of who is a caregiver, however, is critical.
Differences between family caregivers of adults and parent caregivers of young children are persistent.
It was fielded between August 20 and September 8, 2020.
Due to the small sample size, these results should be interpreted with caution.
For more information, yo contact Laura Skufca,lskufca@aarp.org.
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Coping involves self-care and formal support.
