Championing carer-friendly workplaces as an occupational health & safety issue

Dr. Allison Williams, a professor at McMaster University, is spearheading efforts to bring attention to — and combat — the challenges faced by carer-employees (CEs), who are balancing paid work and unpaid caregiving responsibilities. These carer-employees represent 1 in 4 Canadians and their number will only grow due to an increasing aging population which is living longer with multiple chronic conditions, requiring greater care demands.

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“When there’s no accommodation for CEs, they’re more likely to come to work unwell: fatigue from sleepless nights or cumulative stress over time can manifest in anxiety and depression, as self-care tends to be the first thing to go,” Williams explains. “This eventually leads to burnout and, in many cases, physical health issues. For employees performing physically demanding tasks, the risks of accidents and injuries rise significantly.”