We often hear that an employee’s productivity takes a hit during a caregiving experience. I think the opposite also can happen, that caring for a family member or friend makes an employee more focused and more determined to do well at work.
As I reflected more on this idea, I came up with 12 reasons family caregivers make awesome employees.
1. Rather than gathering at the water cooler, a family caregiver refills the water cooler. A family caregiver gets done what others simply overlook.
2. Instead of spreading gossip, a family caregiver shares encouragement to fellow co-workers. Because of personal experiences, a family caregiver understands what the sting of discouragement feels like so chooses instead to believe in others.
3. When a crisis hits, a family caregiver springs into action. A family caregiver keeps the focus on the solution, avoiding blaming and judging.
4. When a process becomes more complicated than it needs to be, a family caregiver works to streamline the process into a smooth system. A family caregiver can’t waste time so knows how to make the most of time.
5. When a project requires longer hours to complete, a family caregiver rolls up the sleeves and gets to work. A family caregiver has the fortitude to last until the finish line.
6. While co-workers may snap and snipe at each, a family caregiver avoids the fray. A family caregiver knows silliness underlies most discord and chooses to work as well as possible with other co-workers.
7. During a company’s difficult time, a family caregiver adjusts to the budget constraints and changes. A family caregiver understands all too well the challenges of a tight budget so respects what needs to happen to meet a budget.
8. While others may gripe about their employer, a family caregiver appreciates the benefits of employment and works to keep that employment. For a family caregiver, a job means a break, an invigorating challenge, a chance to shine.
9. When a company needs an out-of-the-box thinking, a family caregiver steps up to create innovation. During a caregiving experience, a family caregiver constantly refines old ways into cutting-edge methods to complete tasks and responsibilities. Pioneering new procedures is almost second nature for a family caregiver.
10. When it hits the fan, a family caregiver remains calm. After what a family caregiver has been through during a caregiving experience, nothing can push the family caregiver off course. A family caregiver remains steadfast, getting the job done, no matter how many others in the background panic.
11. You can read the need which means you understand when an uncertain co-worker needs clarification on next steps and when a colleague would love an encouraging word. You read the need during caregiving which means you can read the need anywhere.
12. You know the importance of taking time to recover after a caregiving crisis so you make sure your colleagues give themselves a break after the frenetic pace of meeting a deadline or delivering a completed project on a tough timeline to a client.
What would you add to my list? Please share your reasons why family caregivers make awesome employees.
(Image by Markus Spiske from Pixabay.)
Resources
- Our Certified Caregiving Advocate training will take place on Saturday, November 29, at 10 a.m. ET. We’ll gather for two hours to help you create an impact that improves the caregiving or after-caregiving experience. Register to join us.
- Our newest podcast and YouTube show, “WORK LIVE CARE – The Triple Shift,” releases episodes every month. We discuss how we manage to keep a life when we also manage caregiving and work responsibilities. Learn more about Alexis and her caregiving story during our first episode.
- We host a regular chat for working family caregivers in our community, CaringOurWay.com. We connect every-other-Sunday at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. PT). Our next chat will happen on November 23.
