Human Resources
Responsibility to the Sandwich Generation
Don Schmitz/Human Resource Staffing
Boomers, age 42-60, are being forced to extend their careers
but work fewer hours in order to meet care giving issues with
family; parents, children and grandchildren. Much of this
responsibility will again fall on woman in her mid 40’s.
These are often the same women who are working in key full-time
positions and still raising their own children. The United
States economy has one of the world’s greatest dependence
on two family incomes; this issue has the potential of impacting
our countries ability to be competitive.
An increasing number of HR Professionals are facing the growing
issue of workers requesting time off in order to care for
their aging family members. Lifework estimates, “Nearly
two-thirds of Americans under age sixty think they will have
elder care responsibilities in the next ten years.”
The importance of communication between supervisors and Human
Resources Departments can’t be overemphasized as we
become part of the “Sandwich Generation”. Caring
for family members affects the bottom line. Gerontologist,
Sandra Timmer, estimates a minimum of $29 billion is lost
in reduced productivity.
One of the recommendations frequently given to caregivers
is to talk with their Human Resource Department. The FMLA
(Family Medical Leave Act) entitles eligible workers a maximum
of 12 weeks a year of unpaid leave but this benefit applies
to less than a quarter of our population. That leaves more
than three-quarters of the workforce required to find more
creative ways to support employees and their families by offering:
In order
to deal with this growing need, Human Resources will have
to adapt a position of creative flexibility as well as continued
training in order to meet the needs of the “Sandwich
Generation” This is a challenging task and one that
is not likely to subside over the next decade. How do we accommodate
the needs of employees who have demanding family obligations
while maintaining productivity and the moral of the remaining
workforce?
I invite your thoughts on the sandwich generation and how
your Company has prepared to respond to this growing need.
Don@HRsuperstore.com
