According to the Labor Project for Working Families and the AFL-CIO
Working Women´s Department, more than 64 percent of elder caregivers -- or roughly 14.4 million Americans -- are employed full- or part-time. Furthermore, 40 percent of these workers, typically referred to as the "Sandwich Generation," have both adult care and child care responsibilities.
In looking at the Sandwich Generation, there are several important points that need to be addressed:
(1) Female employees may bear a larger portion of the pressures than their male counterparts. According to AARP, almost 80% of elder care is provided by women. A full 64% of them are employed. And, the number of working caregivers is expected to increase by a projected 9% by 2007.
(2) While caring for an infant is a stage that eventually passes, caring for an elderly dependent is not always for a brief or finite period of time. In most cases, the situation is one of a constant decline in health, ending only when the dependent dies.
(3) Given the new realities of the 21st century, the definition of Sandwich Generation has changed. Says Bill Novelli, AARP´s executive director, "Caregivers today may be assisting not only their own children and parents, but also grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and even children of friends and neighbors."
Facing a trio of serious responsibilities -- raising children, caring for elderly dependents, and managing their professional lives - the Sandwich Generation is coping, but stressed. According to "In the Middle: A Report on Multicultural Boomers Coping with Family and Aging Issues" (AARP, July 2001), 20 percent of caregivers reported that they feel stress because they are sandwiched between older and younger generations. Three in ten who have responsibility for their parents´ or in-laws´ care cited stress.
Employers feel the impact
Researchers estimate that employers now lose between $25 billion and $30 billion each year as a result of absenteeism and other costs associated with care-giving employees. And while much of that total comes from childcare responsibilities, a growing portion stems from caring for aging dependents.
Some employers are helping their sandwiched employees cope. The "2001
Benefits Survey" conducted by the Society for Human Resources Management, found that there is an increase in elder care benefits from previous years. Elder care referral service benefits increased to 19% from 15% in 2000, followed by emergency elder care (5%), company supported elder care center (2%) and subsidized cost of elder care (1%).
While these benefits help, there is one benefit that employees say they need time and time again -- Flexibility. Having an employer who understands that the Sandwich Generation is in a pickle, and gives them the flexibility to manage their myriad responsibilities. Doing so is not only an investment in their work forces, but generates results that reflect in the bottom line.
To learn more about how to help the sandwich generation, please contact
Denise Markley, Vice President, Corporate Services at Work|Life
Benefits, at (714) 677-8686.
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