(PRNewsFoto/Caregivers with Hope)
(PRNewsFoto/Caregivers with Hope)
The unexpected and unrelenting challenges of caregiving affects not only caregivers, but their employers and their co-workers. With nearly half of America’s 65 million family caregivers participating in the workforce, the workplace is feeling the pinch of this growing pressure on their employees who also find themselves in the role of family caregiver. The emotional fatigue of caregiving alone can compromise a worker’s productivity, but throw in last minute schedule changes, continual phone calls, tardiness, and absenteeism—and more employers are finding themselves in the difficult place of wanting to express compassion while simultaneously maintaining a productive workplace.
Caregivers with Hope founder Peter Rosenberger says that caregiving employees can strengthen their professional standing in the workplace by taking 3 simple steps.
“I’ve found that if an employee is forthright with their supervisor about their circumstances, asks for flexibility without an attitude of entitlement, and consistently provides a fair day’s work, their employer is more likely to be understanding and work with them,” states Rosenberger. “It is also important for the employer to still keep boundaries for these workers. They are not helping the caregiving employee by enabling poor workplace habits and performance.”
To address these and other concerns faced by the caregiver, Rosenberger founded Caregivers with Hope to offer clear, proven strategies to guide them towards a healthier lifestyle in every facet of their life. Peter is ‘the Caregivers Caregiver’ bringing diverse talent and outrageous humor and candor to encourage others. “The goal is not just making family caregivers feel better, but offering them the tools and empowerment to be better,” says Rosenberger.
Through an unparalleled journey with his wife Gracie, Peter has navigated through a medical nightmare for the past three decades that has included 78 operations and the amputation of both of Gracie’s legs. In the process, he has learned that a caregiver cannot only survive, but thrive in the midst of oftentimes-grim circumstances.