The Sandwich Generation
Working Women Caught between Parents, Kids and Careers
For the working woman sandwiched between caring for aging parents while raising her family and juggling a career, work/life balance can be difficult. Here are a few tips.
No, this is not a new catchphrase to describe the eating patterns of the younger set. The sandwich generation is actually a clever way of describing a generation of people – typically baby boomers – who are sandwiched between caring for their aging parents while still supporting children of their own. In fact according to a recent USA TODAY poll, 41 percent of baby boomers are helping to care for at least one aging parent, and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 44 percent of Americans have an aging parent and children under the age of 21 to care for.
This effect of being caught or “sandwiched” between caring for older and younger family members has occurred due to the increase in the number of aging Americans as we continue to live longer. Unfortunately, women – and their careers – tend to feel the greatest impact, an impact that helps to perpetuate the glass ceiling.
That leaves working women wondering what to do. How can they have the career they want and still care for those they love? Fear not. There are options for both the working woman and her employer. Here are just a few:
For the working woman who needs assistance with day care for either an aging parent and/or a young child, there are intergenerational day care programs throughout the United States where older Americans and youngsters spend their days together in shared-site facilities specifically designed for interaction. The benefit, beyond the interaction, is that it can take the weight off the shoulders of the person who is most often the care giver – the working mother.
According to a 2006 study by CCH, one in four absences is due to family issues. Backup family-care options work like an insurance plan by providing temporary backup care for loved ones in case of an unexpected need such as the illness of a regular caregiver, a school holiday or a parent needing to travel out of town on business. Employers contract for a variety of benefits via a service provider and employees pay for it through regular payroll deductions.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Beyond daily care, there are also the medical needs that rise with aging. Long- term care insurance, a supplemental insurance that is being offered by more and more employers or is available in a private plan, is there to pay for at-home care, assisted living or nursing-home care.
Flextime
Flextime has been around for years. In fact, 43 percent of U.S. employees have flextime according to the Families and Work Institute. By offering flextime, employers offer their employees an adjusted work schedule which may mean a compressed work week such as working four 10-hour days or even three 12-hour days, or alternative work hours. Employees should check with the human resources department to determine if their employer offers such benefits.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Flexible spending accounts are available through most employers for dependent care and are funded by pre-tax payroll deductions, resulting in a tax savings for the employee. Flexible spending accounts allow employees to put money aside for use on medical expenses as well as child or elder care. More information and the necessary forms can be found in most human resources departments.
Elder-Care Referral Services
A newer trend is elder care referral services, which offer access to a database of information such as housing options, adult day care, home health agencies, food programs, and legal services as well as consultants who can help identify short- and long-term assistance to employees. Employers can offer these services as an additional benefit to their employees or now many services such as Family and Workplace Connection offer individual access at their website.
Whatever a working parent’s particular needs – a more flexible work schedule, money set aside for daily and long-term care or access to services -- there are more and more options available as we experience the graying of America.
