Businesses Explore End-Of-Life Initiatives To Help Employees With Caregiving
NPR: "Juggling a caregiving role with a full-time job is daunting. But it can be even more difficult working during the end stages of a loved one's life. Some companies are exploring end-of-life initiatives to help their employees manage the ultimate transition. A report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that 1 in 5 caregivers had to take a leave of absence from work. And during the dying process in those critical months before death, employee productivity becomes dicey at best. To help employees, Pitney Bowes launched a pilot program last fall allowing flexible working arrangements ... Pitney Bowes - along with General Electric, PepsiCo and IBM - is working with the National Business Group on Health to design an end-of-life toolkit for employers. This kit will help caregivers and employees who have been given a life-limiting diagnosis. Addressing the topic is a business imperative, says Stephen Kiernan, the author of Last Rights: Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical System" (Martin, 8/10).This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.