What people trend are you focusing on in 2025 ?

There are at least nine reasons why you should focus on working caregivers.

Author

ieadvocates
February 11, 2025

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieadvocates (invisible employee advocates)

What people trend are you focusing on in 2025 ?

Thank you for being here!

Recently, while participating on a panel discussion sponsored by Hacking HR ‘s People and Culture Strategy Summit, one of us was asked: “What people trend should we be focusing on in 2025?” Though the panel’s theme was about people analytics and the power of people data, the response without hesitation was that the most important people trend we should be talking about is the working caregiver crisis. And that followed with nine reasons why.

It was a pleasant surprise to see that the panel engaged on the topic for over twenty minutes. In fact, the attendees blew up the chat with their own caregiver stories sharing their own challenges and supporting the comments made by the panelists. This further validated the point that the working caregiver crisis is and should be a top priority people trend to talk about in 2025.

If you are fortunate to have or be part of a caregiver Employee Resource Group (ERG), this would be a great topic to discuss and perhaps work on creating a culture of care. Be sure to read today’s blog on caregiver ERG’s. You can read all about the experience and the nine reasons here.

Whether you’re an employer, business manager, HR, or a working caregiver, this newsletter offers valuable insights along with win-win-win simple solutions to help implement meaningful change for organizations, employees who are caregivers, and their care recipients.

Table of Contents

In the news:

Latest research, events, and articles that are making an impact for working caregivers and their employers.

Healthy Ways to Overcome Caregiver Burnout

Paul Wynn, Brain & Life, February/March 2025

In a recent post on LinkedIn we shared a startling statistic that sixty percent (60%) of caregivers experience symptoms of burnout according to a Cleveland report. Using the 2020 report that there are 53 million caregivers in the United Stated, that would mean that 32,000,000 Americans experience burnout symptoms.

These symptoms are similar to those of stress and depression, such as emotional and physical exhaustion, withdrawal from friends, family and other loved ones, getting sick more often, irritability, frustration or anger toward others and feeling hopeless and helpless to mention a few.

Paul Wynn is a caregiver advocate and he does quite a bit of research on this topic and speaks with many experts. He writes in this article that burnout is underreported and is “an increasingly serious problem among caregivers”. He writes:

“according to a 2023 survey conducted by AARP, …found that about half of the 1,001 participants reported heightened emotional stress, while 37 percent noted physical stress. Caregivers under 35 reported the highest levels of anxiety, and women experienced more emotional distress than men. Nearly four in 10 caregivers said they rarely or never feel relaxed.”

As part of this article he spoke with Cait Donovan who is considered a burnout expert having experienced years of burnout herself and then experienced burnout recovery conducting a tremendous amount of research. She shares with Paul that a caregiver must have compassion for themself.

“Caregivers often push themselves relentlessly, with a harsh inner voice,” she says. “To heal, they must grant themselves grace and understand that needing a break doesn't diminish their love or commitment.”

Some recommendations Cait shared with Paul that can help healing included meditation, deep-breathing exercises, and reflective writing.

Paul also spoke with Mary Lou Falcone, author of I Didn't See It Coming, a book about taking care of her husband, Nicky Zann, who was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2019. She shares another way to manage through burn out:

“Caregivers may need to let go of pent-up stress during moments of extreme pressure. As unorthodox as it may sound, finding a private space and yelling the f-word into a pillow provides a sense of release that ‘heck,’ ‘darn,’ or even ‘damn’ just doesn't deliver.”

Be sure to listen to Cait’s podcast Fried: The Burnout Podcast and check out Mary Lou’s book I Didn't See It Coming below.

Pepsi supports 280k employees with new financial wellness initiative

We have shared in the past that working caregivers unfortunately can experience negative impacts from their caregiving roles. These negative impacts can be physical, mental, emotional and financial.

In the LinkedIn article about the nine reasons why the working caregiver crisis is the trend to focus on in 2025 mentioned above, we shared a statistic about the financial impact. The average amount of out of pocket expenses that family caregivers personally spend is $7,242 a year. It is significantly more for caregivers that care for individuals with dementia ($9-12,000). For many caregivers, this can be up to one quarter of their income that workers spend on caregiving activities.

Pepsi is doing something about that which will impact all their employees, not just their working caregivers.

“The food and beverage giant is partnering with financial education platform nudge on a "Healthy Money" program, which will support employees across the globe with a personalized financial wellness plan. From basic financial literacy, to support with retirement planning, the benefit is available to Pepsi's 280,000 employees across 59 countries. “

Apparently, Pepsi is not going to be alone in supporting their employees financial wellbeing in the future.

“Financial well-being continues to be a top area of investment for employers this year. By 2026, 47% of employers plan to add financial wellness tools to their benefits suite, according to CloudPay. These are benefits employees appreciate, too: 80% of employees would stay with their employer longer if financial wellness benefits were offered, according to a survey by PNC Bank.” 

 Did you know? (Read our blog):

Our blog brings you knowledge, personal and researched, to raise your awareness and empathy about working caregivers and caregiving.

Working Caregiver ERGs: Influential or Insignificant? (Blog 2/11/25)

As you read this blog, we would like you to consider your views regarding the following questions: Do you think working caregiver Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have the power to influence the organization toward a more caring workplace that is more supportive of this segment of their workforce? Or, are you of the mindset that these ERGs (and ERGs in general) have little to no impact on the organization’s decision-making and direction around caregiving issues or otherwise? 

People and Companies In the spotlight:

Our podcast puts a spotlight on guests who are making a significant difference in the working caregiver space.

Episode 11: From Caregiver to Advocate: Dahlia Sizer’s Workplace Solutions

In this episode, we sit down with Dahlia Sizer, an HR leader and passionate advocate for caregivers, to unpack how companies can create a more supportive and flexible work environment for employees juggling caregiving responsibilities.

Dahlia shares her personal caregiving journey, the impact it had on her career, and the lessons she’s carried into her HR leadership role. We talk about flexible work policies, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and how leadership can step up to better support caregivers. Dahlia additionally offers practical advice for both employees and managers on navigating workplace benefits, advocating for change, and ensuring that caregiving doesn’t come at the cost of professional success. 

Dahlia Sizer is the former Director of DEI for Saint-Gobain, NA. An accomplished Human Resources Practitioner with expertise in Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Dahlia is adept at navigating complex organizational structures to deliver strategic vision and tailored solutions. Known as a catalyst for change, Dahlia consistently drives impactful results. Integrating deep expertise in global diversity, equity, inclusion, employee engagement, organizational behavior, project management, and recruitment, Dahlia effects substantial and positive transformation. With over a decade of experience in human resources, Dahlia's approach blends strategic vision with a deep understanding of HR policies and team leadership to foster an inclusive culture that not only retains talent but also propels the company forward.

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Actual working caregivers share their stories.

Christian Harriott at age 62 is primary caregiver for his AF Veteran father, Victor Harriott, 92. Mr. Victor Harriott moved from independent living with an ill spouse in Massachusetts and now is in assisted living in Maryland to be close by son Christian.  A life lesson of the full circle of care. You can connect with Christian on LinkedIn.

Christian Harriott

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“So I had to start managing my own personal energy, the energy to manage my father, and other ventures that I have going on. Trying to become productive in my job being a caregiver and a professional. When I had a choice between two job offers, I had to factor in the caregiver responsibilities into the decision making process for both jobs. And I ended up taking a job that paid me less because of the autonomy or ability to continue in the caregiver role that I am.”

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“I had a boss called Wanda Lazar. She made us all feel like family, just all part of her children as our leader. She listened to us. We shared stories. We shared stories about caregiving. We didn't know it was called caregiving at the time… An employee should never have to ask for this type (caregiving) of support. We should always say and I was always told that folks at BMS, tell your employees in the interview not in the interview process. When they're signing that final agreement, let them know about the ERGs that are available and what those ERGs have as a resource. And having caregiver support …”

Recommended media content:

We explore and share with you diverse media illuminating the dynamics and narratives within the care economy - from insightful podcasts to thought-provoking books and engaging videos.

PODCASTS

Tune into this episode of FRIED. The Burnout Podcast for a conversation with Michelle Melendez about self-care, guilt and caregiving. Hear tips that Michelle has learned through caring for her mother and how she was able to overcome her burnout. “Part of love and care is knowing when you need to bring in help. Even if you’re not providing the direct care, by getting appropriate care, adequate care, supervised care, you are providing care,” emphasizes Michelle Melendez, a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience. Michelle’s caregiving journey began 13 years ago when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In her private practice, she now specializes in supporting clients as they work through burnout and caregiver stress to discover true self-care.

In the midst of caring for her mother, Michelle began forgetting to take care of herself. This experience taught her that seeking out help is not a sign of failure, but rather a crucial component of caring for the ones you love. While caregivers often feel a sense of guilt when they delegate some of their responsibilities, failing to do so leaves the door wide open for burnout. By carving out time for self-care and realizing she didn’t have to do everything alone, Michelle was able to break out of her burnout and become an even better caregiver to her mother. 

VIDEOS

In the LinkedIn article about the nine reasons why the working caregiver crisis is the trend to focus on in 2025 mentioned above, we shared that employees are working at an older age. This may increase the likelihood that they will be caring for a spouse or partner. Jeffrey Snyder and Laurel Wittman President-elect, Well Spouse Association of https://wellspouse.org/ talk about the importance of being a caregiver spouse.  www.broadcastretirementnetwork.com


BOOKS

I Didn't See It Coming: Scenes of Love, Loss and Lewy Body Dementia

In this memoir of love, loss, and Lewy body dementia (LBD), Mary Lou Falcone takes readers on a cathartic journey of caregiving that is filled with hope, laughter, and tears, making stops along the way for music, romance, and surprises. Written to inspire and give hope, Mary Lou unflinchingly shares in detail her late husband’s struggle with LBD, providing informative, compassionate, and inspiring insights into dementia. As she emerges transformed and energized, so will the readers of I Didn’t See It Coming: Scenes of Love, Loss, and Lewy Body Dementia.

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank Amazon Customer who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful review!

“Caregiving is in all of us! This book raises caregiving awareness in our lives, and the people around us!!! A must read!”

Order your copy of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees book here. If you want to order a quantity of books for your leadership team and employees, contact us directly about discount pricing.

Order Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Book here

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