benefits
Who Cares for the Carers?
CANADIAN WORKPLACES ARE STARTING TO ADDRESS
THE COSTS OF CAREGIVER BURNOUT
By Sarah B. Hood
Canadians are facing an increasingly heavy burden in caring
for others due to long-term illness, disability or aging.
About 35 per cent of our workforce is now providing care
to a family member or friend – not counting normal childrearing
duties or care for temporary illnesses or injuries.
On January 20, 2015, about 150 Human Resources Professionals
Association (HRPA) conference registrants attended an expert
panel discussion and workshop on caregiver-friendly workplaces to
hear seven unique perspectives on this pressing topic and contribute
to a breakout session on applying caregiver-friendly workplace models
within their own organization.
The panel, moderated by Moderator Kathryn A. Butler Malette,
CHRL, former chief human resources officer for the House of
Commons, included a broad spectrum of participants.
Dr. Donna Lero, a professor at the University of Guelph’s
Centre for Families, Work & Well-Being, pointed out that
Canadians over the age of 45 saw a 20 per cent increase in caregiving
between 2007 and 2012. However, “A growing body of
research indicates that there are benefits to employers that do
address this issue.”
Marcella Daye, a senior policy analyst with the Canadian
Human Rights Commission, discussed the legal implications:
most Human Rights Codes prohibit discrimination on the basis
of family status. “If an employer has a rule that prevents accommodation,
that could be a legal problem.”
Dr. Jack Watters, vice president of external medical affairs at
Pfizer Inc., described the pharmaceutical company’s programs,
including one that enables e-visits so employees can be virtually
present with relatives at doctors’ appointments, and GetOld.com,
which offers resources and encourages dialogue. “It just makes
sense morally, ethically, culturally, economically.”
“You have to look at this an employer and say, ‘How can we
help?’” said Stephen Shea, managing partner, Talent at Ernst
& Young. Shea chaired an Employer Panel for Caregivers convened
by the Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers
Responsible for Seniors, which has just released When Work and
Caregiving Collide – How Employers Can Support their Employees
Who Are Caregivers, a report highlighting best workplace practices.
“I would encourage everybody to think about how to increase
the awareness in their own organizations.”
Caterina Sanders, vice president of Habanero Consulting
Group, says her firm prizes flexibility and employs the selfdetermination
theory of human motivation. “Hire the right
people, because then you can step back and let people find good
common-sense solutions.”
University of Toronto Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Joel Sadavoy
is Pencer Chair and Head of Geriatric Psychiatry at Mount Sinai
Hospital’s Reitman Centre for Alzheimer’s Support and Training,
which carries out research and trains caregivers to change their
own behaviour to reduce stress through the Working CARERS
Program, delivered nationally through EAP provider Ceridian.
BMO joined the Working CARERS Program, which is “led
by trained professionals who provide training, but also emotional
support,” said Natalie Scott, managing director, Global Benefits &
Recognition for BMO. “We’ve spent a lot of time really breaking
down the stigma of what it means to ask for help. We can’t leave it
up to the managers alone.”
A digest of this panel will be published at a later date. ■
HRPATODAY.CA ❚ MARCH/APRIL 2015 ❚ 27