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opinion: reshaping canada's caregiving system
if every caregiver took one week off, our care systems would collapse before noon on the very first day, writes naomi azrieli, the chair and ceo of the azrieli foundation.
opinion: working caregivers need support and protection now more than ever
employers must lead the implementation of caregiver-friendly workplace policies, but our governments must also step-up to protect and strengthen the rights of working caregivers.
caregiving responsibilities can also mean turning down promotions or leaving the workforce all together, especially in cases of intense care needs.
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current public conversations around employee burnout, quiet quitting and overt attempts to block workers’ rights to unionize remind us that there is still much progress to be made to protect workers’ rights and support elusive work-life balance.
we know that the time away from work is critical to our mental health and wellbeing as well as to our overall productivity. but for one in three canadian workers, approximately six million people, life after work responsibilities shifts to other work – that of providing care to family or friends who are ill, have disabilities, or are aging. often unseen. always unpaid.
working caregivers face high levels of stress and burnout. in 2012, 44 per cent of working caregivers missed an average of eight to nine days of work in one year, the equivalent of 15 million days missed annually. for far too many people, missing work due to care responsibilities means lower wages or lost jobs.
caregiving responsibilities can also mean turning down promotions or leaving the workforce all together, especially in cases of intense care needs. all these scenarios have direct financial implications for caregivers. estimates show that caregivers lost an aggregated $337 million (cad) in wages annually between 2003 and 2008 due to absenteeism, reducing work hours, or leaving employment. more than a decade later, this number is likely much higher.
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the impacts of caregiving in canada fall more heavily on women than men, and women are more likely to have their careers disrupted by care responsibilities. in 2018, women accounted for almost 60 per cent of all employees who left the paid labour force because of caregiving, according to data released by the university of alberta. those who take time away from the workforce to give care also miss out on contributing to pension plans and cpp, reducing their long-term financial security and ability to retire.
employers, too, lose when care responsibilities are not supported through comprehensive policies. in 2020, employers across canada lost an estimated $5.5 billion (cad) annually in lost productivity due to caregiving-related absenteeism.
it does not need to be this way. slowly, we are seeing workplaces in canada and globally work toward building caregiver-friendly workplace policies with access to leaves and flexible work arrangements that allow employees to work outside of regular office or at home if needed.
at the canadian centre for caregiving excellence, we believe that caregiving is the next frontier of public policy in canada. we are building a care movement across the country to address the lack of comprehensive policies and support for caregivers across canada – including financial compensation for unpaid caregivers and better workplace policies for those balancing both. our whitepaper, giving care: an approach to a better caregiving landscape in canada, outlines possible policy solutions to address the existing gaps.
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canadian centre for caregiving excellence
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employers must lead the implementation of caregiver-friendly workplace policies, but our governments must also step-up to protect and strengthen the rights of working caregivers by expanding provincial, territorial, federal leaves and benefits, as well as mandating flexible work arrangements.
from november 6 to 8, 2023, we will be convening for the first canadian caregiving summit in ottawa, ontario, and online to bring together people with lived experience, policy makers, researchers and health system leaders to work together toward the creation of a national caregiving strategy. at the three-day event, we will be diving into the challenges and solutions faced by caregivers and care providers across canada, including specific sessions related to working caregivers.
on labour day, as we celebrate the gains we have achieved to date and remember the struggles of our past, we are also reminded of the need to redouble our efforts towards a better and more equitable future for workers. support for working caregivers is an essential part of our better collective future. we cannot afford to ignore this issue. we hope that you will join us in this fight.
liv mendelsohn is the executive director of the canadian centre for caregiving excellence, powered by the azrieli foundation, and an award-winning disability advocate from toronto, ontario.
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