The impact of caregiving on employee stress and employment outcomes: Organizational support as a Buffer

Current research demonstrates the widespread impact of caregiver stress on the psychological, physical, and employment-related functioning of workers. Given that many caregivers are mid or late-career employees who are caring for older individuals, understanding the impact of caregiver stress has increasing importance as the population continues to age and the percentage of middle-aged or older adults facing caregiving stressors increases. We begin with a review of research which documents the negative impact of this stress on the worker and on outcomes for the firm such as turnover and absenteeism of caregivers who work. Next, we cover characteristics of employees who are most likely to be impacted by caregiving demands to facilitate targeted organizational interventions to increase support for this population. Organizational support in the form of employee-friendly policies and more personalized managerial support is reviewed as a potential buffer between caregiver stress and these negative employee and organizational outcomes. Research on the effectiveness of both types of organizational support as a means of reducing caregiver stress is included in our overview.