Looking After Elders Makes Workers Fear Losing Job


Published in The Times of India

July 23, 2012

World


  Photo Credit: The Times of India

One person in seven fears that they will get the sack for staying at home to care for their elderly relatives, a new study has revealed.

According to a study by Engage Mutual Assurance, around 14 per cent of 40-65-year-olds believe that employers regard taking off such time as absenteeism.

The lack of employer flexibility comes despite rising numbers of the middle-aged having to care for ageing parents.

Nearly a quarter of the 1,000 surveyed said they provided elderly parents with daily support.

The poll also found when people have only one parent the probability of them having to do odd jobs in the garden and about the home rises by more than 50 per cent.

Engage Mutual director Karl Elliot claimed that if employers were as accepting of the need for people to take time off to care for their elderly parents as they are of child care it would ease the stress on careers.

He said the fear of getting fired was placing careers under unnecessary strain.

Only 21 per cent of people believe employers would be supportive of caring roles.