Dive Brief:
- Nearly 1 in 4 Generation X workers spends the equivalent of two full workdays each week on caregiving responsibilities, creating the need for more conversations about employee support, workplace flexibility and long-term workforce planning, according to a July 24 report from resume consulting firm Zety.
- A June survey of 1,003 Gen X workers found that 22% spend more than 16 hours a week providing care to loved ones; 37% are in the “sandwich generation” squeeze, caring for aging relatives while supporting minor and adult children; and 44% of Gen X caregivers said they struggle to stay focused and productive at work, career expert Jasmine Escalera wrote in an analysis of the data.
- More than half (54%) reported feeling stressed and burned out from their caregiving responsibilities, yet 3 in 10 said they receive little or no support from their employer for managing those demands, Escalera said.
Dive Insight:
Caregiving goes far beyond helping with basic physical chores, Escalera explained. According to the survey, Gen X caregivers also cover logistical or administrative issues such as managing healthcare appointments, medications and insurance needs. Additionally, they assist with housing and daily living support, like groceries and transportation, and help with paying bills, rent or tuition.
For caregivers, juggling these demands “inevitably spill[s] over into the workday, driving up stress levels [and] fracturing professional focus,” Escalera pointed out.
For instance, 40% Gen X caregivers say they’ve been interrupted by appointments, pickups or emergencies, and 37% said it’s difficult for them to start and complete work on time.
A survey by software firm Atlassian found that nearly three-quarters of working caregivers across seven countries reported having to use time off to catch up with work, while 60% said trying to balance caregiving responsibilities with professional responsibilities negatively affects their career.
The issues are likely to expand in the coming years, according to a recent report from The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Guardian’s research found that the percentage of full-time working Americans managing caregiving responsibilities has increased 13% since 2019.
Caregiving also appears to be prominent across generations, with 25% of baby boomers, 39% of Gen X, 51% of millennials and 38% of Generation Z reporting caregiving responsibilities.
To help reduce the need for leave and improve engagement, retention and overall performance, companies can provide resources like wellness and mental health services, flexible schedules, equitable paid leave benefits and employee assistance programs, Guardian suggested.
“Because widespread employer support is still lacking, there’s a gap between the workplace flexibility professionals need and what corporate structures actually provide,” Escalera said.
