Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the specific cost impact of the working informal caregiver on productivity decline, absenteeism, and lost benefits in county government agencies in Southern California. It examined the informal caregiver's responsibilities, the extent of agency collaboration with community eldercare services, and the effects of the informal caregiver upon the organization. As the majority of studies to date find problems with informal caregivers, the intent of this study was to determine the cost of the informal caregiver at the organizational level. Methodology. Primary data, secondary data, and personal interviews were used to understand the overall financial and social impact of the informal caregiver in the workplace. A survey instrument was developed to assess the employee and family needs of the individual who gives care to an elder family member. Secondary data were used in this study to determine wages lost in terms of cost, benefits used, and recorded absenteeism of employees who are informal caregivers in the year 2002 in San Bernardino County. Findings. When informal caregiving is evaluated in regard to its cost at the organizational level, it has been found that the cost to the organization for one-year in absenteeism, decline in productivity and benefit loss is greater than previous national studies have revealed. In addition to the cost, the current number of informal caregivers in the workplace has increased substantially over a one-year period. Conclusions and recommendations. Informal caregiver employees should be made aware of eldercare benefits and (FMLA) community-based eldercare services in order to decrease the cost of the informal caregiver to the organization, the individual, and society. It is suggested that future policies and programs that are tailored to the informal caregiver be considered and implemented in the workplace.