Flexibility Needed for Working Caregivers

AARP Research has a new report, Working Caregivers' Worries Over Workplace Return.  With some employers bringing employees back to the physical office, will the flexibility provided by working from home completely disappear?

AARP surveyed Americans who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend and work part- or full-time to learn about their concerns coming out of the pandemic. Of the national sample of adults polled by phone, 56% say their employer offered new benefits as a result of the pandemic, such as flexible schedules and the ability to work remotely.

As of July, about half of caregivers (52%) were continuing to work from home at least some of the time and 89% would like that option going forward. Most said it's been easier to juggle the demands of work and caregiving while not having to commute (49% to a great degree and 40% to some degree), according to the AARP survey.

The full report is available here.  I have pasted the key findings here for your convenience:

• Working caregivers have felt the strain as the COVID-19 pandemic has ensued. With nearly eight in ten saying the pandemic increased their level of stress. Two in three caregivers (66%) express concern that they will have difficulty juggling responsibilities in the next 12 months.
• More than half of working caregivers say their employer instituted new benefits as a result of the pandemic. The most common benefits instituted were flexible schedules and the ability to work remotely.
• Flexibility is important for working caregivers to successfully balance caregiving with work. In fact, it is so highly valued that more than four in ten caregivers say they would consider looking for a new job if their employer rolled back any of the benefits they instituted during the pandemic.
• A slight majority of working caregivers currently have the ability to work at home at least some of the time and most want to continue with this arrangement.
• Nearly half say working at home has helped them manage their dual roles a great deal.
  In addition to balancing responsibilities, working caregivers are most concerned about exposing the person they care for to the coronavirus or leaving them home unattended while they go to work.