Today's workforce is likely to contain a higher proportion of older workers and this trend is expected to continue to rise. With the expected skill shortages organizations understand that keeping people over the age of 50 at work is becoming increasingly important. The changing demographic also results in an increase of individuals providing care to family or friends who require long-term care. When we look at the UK’s statics it is those aged in their 50s and 60s that are most likely to provide care.
Employers have an interest to protect the wellbeing of their employees and will benefit from considering carer’s needs within their policies and practises. Some organizations’ might already be using ISO 45001 to manage their occupational health and safety management system: the aim and intended outcomes of an OH&S management system are to prevent work-related injury and ill health to workers, and to provide safe and healthy workplaces. Consequently, it is critically important for the organization to eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks by taking effective preventive and protective measures. This also include measures to manage psychosocial risks. Psychosocial hazards are increasingly recognized as major challenges to health, safety and wellbeing at work. ISO 45003 ‘Occupational health and safety management —Psychological health and safety at work — Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks’ was published last year to support organizations in this aspect.
When we review the research on the mental well-being of older workers and carers, it is referenced that social support and risk reduction strategies for stress and improving coping strategies are important issues. As carers already have an increase of responsibility in their personal life, it is important to recognize that combined with a lack of social support in the workplace there can be an increased likelihood of emotional exhaustion, so improving the coping strategies for stress in high-risk environments is important. Any workplace strategy to improve mental wellbeing should be aimed at workers of all ages and take a considered perspective towards individuals providing care.
Caregiving has become one of the most important social and economic issues and as the population ages, carers will continue to play an increasingly key role in our communities, providing substantial economic value. Although caregiving is a valued societal resource and often viewed positively by carers themselves, family/friend carers are largely a hidden and unacknowledged workforce. One of the most difficult challenges for working carers is trying to balance employment with caregiving responsibilities.
In terms of generating gender equality in the workplace, care responsibilities is also an important facet to consider as caring is still often thought of as being a part of women’s lives, and women are still most likely to be providing care. Providing support for carers, especially those looking to stay in or return to paid work, is essential if women are to be able to participate fully in the economy and live a life free from poverty in older age.
These documents can be used in conjunction with an organization’s management systems, human resource programs, and/or equity, diversity and inclusion programs, or on its own in the absence of a formal workplace program to support workers’ wellbeing.
ISO 45003 on psychological health and safety is a tool that anyone can use to prioritize the people in their organization. It helps identify where psychosocial risks arise and how they can be mitigated or eliminated and can help you to develop expertise, increase people’s trust and manage risk better.
Aside from the general benefits of increasing psychological heath and safety ISO 25551 will further add benefit with a nuanced approach that considers carers. Studies have shown that carer-inclusive policies and programs can help to: retain skilled staff, improve morale and productivity through staff engagement, reduce absenteeism, reduce disability costs and mental health claims, demonstrate the organization’s investment in society, etc. This standard can support organizations in taking steps to create a carer-inclusive environment.