As a caregiver, stress comes with the territory. From child care to elder care, these professions are both physically and emotionally taxing. This demanding job, like any other, should come with down time to recharge. Caregivers (and the families they work for) benefit greatly when paid time off (PTO) is part of the deal.
But, what exactly does PTO look like for caregivers?
Well, some guidelines for this policy include sick days, vacation time, family or medical leave, and federal holidays – preferably paid. This may seem like a difficult policy to grant, but in the long-run it seriously helps your family and promotes the health and happiness of the caregiver. Here’s how.
SICK DAYS
People get sick sometimes, it happens. At your job, chances are, there are days allotted for when you’re under the weather. Shouldn’t your caregiver be granted that time as well? Giving her the opportunity to take care of herself helps her maintain her own health so that she can care for both her family and yours. After all, you wouldn’t want your nanny spending all day with your kids when she’s fighting off an illness.
VACATION TIME
Vacation is actually a restorative process for both body and mind. For one thing, it makes employees more resilient. That goes for all employees: you, me, and your caregiver. Psychologists have even found that the time and opportunity to relax (or learn how to relax) helps your brain produce the feeling of calm. Seriously, neuroscience shows that humans need time to restore. As stressful as caregiving may be, lacking this time only makes caregiver’s less able to do their jobs in productive ways.
More than a quarter of caregivers reported that they have difficulty managing emotional and physical stress. But with more than half of them putting the employer’s family’s needs first, this is unsurprising. This stress contributes to health problems; for example, anxiety, depression, and a weakened immune system. But, when a caregiver has the opportunity to refresh during vacation time, she comes back stronger and healthier.
PAID LEAVE
Too many women already choose between going to work and taking care of their families- your caregiver should not have to be one of them. Offering paid leave lets your caregiver know that you care about her and her family as much as she cares about you and yours. It might be a challenge for you in the near-term, if you have to find and manage replacement care for your loved one while your caregiver is on leave. But providing that paid leave could be the difference between your caregiver coming back to work and you having to find a full-time replacement for that nanny your kids have become so attached to.
HOLIDAYS
Holidays are a time to reunite with family and friends over food, music, and sometimes presents. From Independence Day to Christmas, everybody has different traditions for different holidays. For one thing, traditions are enjoyable and bring stress relief and happiness. A fair barometer of what holidays to give your caregiver as paid time off could be to hit the federal holidays and others you get from your own employer. If you have the day off (and don’t need care) then you can bet your nanny would appreciate a day off, too. Federal holidays, especially the end-of-year holiday season, provides opportunity to boost morale by reflecting and celebrating the work over the year. These structured breaks also give well-deserved pauses in what can be a very hectic job.
Granting your caregiver PTO isn’t good for just her- it helps you too. You will be a family that caregivers will want to work for. So, you’ll have top-notch caregivers who remain loyal to you. Plus, a healthier and happier person spending time with your children (or loved ones) is no small thing. They get a richer experience, which keeps them healthier and happier as well.
To get started on offering paid time off, the first thing to do is discuss it with your caregiver. Once you and your caregiver have set out a paid time off plan that you both agree upon, you can begin to organize it. Organizing time off can – and perhaps should — begin with a written agreement. This gives the caregiver some autonomy over her time off, along with the responsibility of coordinating with the family to make sure the time off fits within the parameters agreed upon by everyone. It also shows the caregiver that you appreciate and value them and their work.
Ready to start offering PTO? Here are some resources that could come in handy.
