Balancing Work vs. Caregiving


A recent study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP found that most employers are sympathetic to the demands placed on employees who are caregivers.

However, employees are typically reluctant to discuss their caregiving responsibilities with their supervisors because they fear it will affect their job security or career prospects.

In 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) made it possible for eligible workers to take up to 12 weeks a year of unpaid leave for family caregiving without loss of job security or health benefits.

On average, caregivers provide about 20 hours of assistance a week to a loved one. Caregiving responsibilities combined with the demands of a job can be very stressful and, at times, overwhelming. But there are some things you can do to help manage these demands:

  • Talk openly and honestly with your supervisor about your caregiving responsibilities. Ask what options you might have available to you.
  • Find out what your company's policy is regarding caregiving. Depending on the size of your company and how long you have been employed, you may be eligible for up to 12 weeks unpaid leave.
  • Investigate the possibility of job sharing or working part time.
  • If your company offers flex-time, take advantage of it. Some companies are glad to have employees work less desirable hours such as evenings or weekends.
  • Set priorities both at work and at home and be realistic about what can be accomplished in your daily routine.
  • Take advantage of community resources such as volunteer groups, religious organization support groups, or home health care services.

The most important thing you can do as a caregiver is to take care of yourself! It's easy to neglect your own health and personal needs.

For more information on this topic, visit the Caregiver Video Library to learn more. We developed an entire module focused on "You The Caregiver" which contains three videos that offer ways to cope with the demands of being a caregiver, how to take care of yourself, and how to balance work and other obligations with care giving.


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In this section you can find a great deal of information that will help you manage your role as you provide care.