Compassionate care leave policies in the workplace increase engagement and retention among Canadian employees caring for terminally ill loved ones.
That’s according to a survey conducted by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), in partnership with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.
More than half (59%) of the 692 organizations polled had formal compassionate care leave policies that recognize and accommodate employees’ responsibilities for providing end-of-life care to loved ones, according to the survey, which was conducted this summer.
A majority of the companies polled reported clear business benefits to providing these policies, including increased employee engagement (61%) and retention (56%). And almost half (49%) said having that type of policy makes it easier for employees to return to work and re-integrate in the team.
“Providing accommodations for employees caring for family members at end of life is one of the ways to reduce caregiver stress and avoid burnout,” says HRPA CEO Bill Greenhalgh. “Workers who are supported through situations like this are more loyal and are more likely to stay with the company.”
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