Fulltime work & informal care - The role of awareness and work related care arrangements

Abstract

Goal and Method: This study centers on full time employed informal caregivers. A Directed Content Analysis (DCA) is studied to ascertain the roles that awareness and/or self-identification as caregiver and work related care arrangements have in the manageability of combining work and care. Light is shed on the Role Theory, which states that combining differing roles, such as work and care will either lead to role strain or role accumulation. Furthermore, the relatively new caregiver identity theory is highlighted, which states that role incongruence causes stress. Furthermore the influence of the supervisor, the workplace culture and support from the personal network of the caregivers is considered. To do so, both informal caregivers and their supervisor are interviewed. In total twelve informal caregivers, five supervisors and two human resources managers were interviewed. Results: Role awareness is not a necessary condition for managing work and care as long as care provision is accepted as part of being a parent/partner/child. Informal caregivers that do not self-identify as a caregiver and those who do both experience role strain. In addition role accumulation is experienced by both groups. Role incongruence is experienced when caregivers are not comfortable with their care tasks or when their role as caregiver and partner/parent/child are in conflict. Most caregivers that participated in this research are not aware of their role and the work related care arrangements that are available in the workplace, though this is compensated by the awareness of their supervisors. The supervisors are aware of the presence of informal caregivers in the workplace and the possible problems they could run into. Their inviting and outreaching attitude ensures that informal caregivers are offered what they need in the workplace. Other important sources of support are colleagues, psychological support and services by professionals and organizations.