The 'sandwich' generation and its set of challenges

While women are generally more likely to take on the role of caregivers, the gap becomes even more significant when it comes to employed women. In Quebec, 32.8% of female caregivers are employed, compared to 20.6% of men. This reflects a notable gap of 12%.[1] Female caregivers are thus much more likely to experience the 'second shift', bearing the extensive responsibilities of caregiving in addition to their professional duties and, in many cases, their roles as mothers.

Obviously, such situations can affect caregivers differently. But what factors can help maintain a healthy balance? What realities can worsen the situation? A study conducted by Mélanie Gagnon and Catherine Beaudry, respectively a professor of industrial relations and human resource management at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, seeks to understand the experience and needs of employed caregivers.[2] Conducted with 42 caregivers facing this situation, the researchers identified four caregiver profiles that shed light on certain helping or hindering factors. [3]

A collective responsibility

It is thus understood that a person can easily change profiles and that a multitude of external factors can help mitigate the negative and sometimes even discriminatory consequences that caregiving can create for employed women. In this regard, the establishment of caregiver-friendly policies in workplaces seems to us to be a key point.