Combining paid work and family care-giving in Poland Jolanta Perek-Białas Institute of Statistics...

Combining paid work and family care-giving in Poland

Jolanta Perek-Białas

Institute of Statistics and Demography, Warsaw School of

Economics

Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow,

Poland

IFA, Prague, Czech Republic

30.05.2012

1 Jolanta Perek-Bialas, Warsaw School of Economics, Jagiellonian University

Four possible situationsCARE

YES NO

WORK YES Usually full time working and

caring as primary carer

Not popular in PL

NO Not active – on retirement – the consequnces of

early exit from the labour market

Not popular in PL

Jolanta Perek-Bialas, Warsaw School of Economics, Jagiellonian University

2

Dominant in the past and still at presentDominant in the future

Less or even noproblems for the state!

More problems for families

Main issue This is important to think about conflict

between increased employment rate of workers (female) and increased need for giving a care to older family members – solutions?

There is a need to think not only on macro organization of health care system but as well on mezo and micro level in these countries beyond the health care systems (regional differences)


Polish society with its traditional family model considers care of a dependant older persons to be an obligation of a society and of primary importance to the wellbeing of seniors.

Different surveys show that the majority of society (like in the study of Kotowska 2008 as much as 90 %) think that the care of older people should be the duty of their children or other relatives (respectively 80%).

How it is organized and what are preferences?

4

Adult population who feel that dependent elderly people have to rely too much on their relatives

Source: Health and long-term care in the European Union, Special Eurobarometer 283/ Wave 67.3 – TNS Opinion & Social, 2007 (selected countries)5 Jolanta Perek-Bialas, Warsaw School

of Economics, Jagiellonian University

The importance of the family as the primary caregivers and the location of care in the household of the care recipients is undoubtful in opposition to the institutionalized care.

The study of Eurofamcare showed that 87% of respondents - carers declared that they would not place the older person in a care home institution under any circumstances. Only 11% would consider such an option if the condition of the person they cared for would worsen (Czekanowski 2006: 105).

Family vs. institutions

6

Attitudes regarding care for the elderly Source: Health and long-term care in the

European Union, Special Eurobarometer 283/ Wave 67.3 – TNS Opinion & Social, 2007 (selected countries)


Availability and access to nursing homes Source: Health and long-term care in the European

Union, Special Eurobarometer 283/ Wave 67.3 – TNS Opinion & Social, 2007 (selected countries)


WORK or/and CARE

Employers (ASPA project)

Working care giver (VW project)


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Not working persons who need to take care(Human Balance Capital)

Source: see Praca a obowiązki 2005, p. 39 and as well Szatur-Jaworska, Rysz-Kowalczyk 2007

Share of women and men who provide care for persons aged 60 and more by age (% of persons in age group)

10

Social policy context Current situation: so far exisiting standard

measures including some financial allowonces and access to nursing services and nursing homes

i.e. 14 days of paid leave per year if someone is employed

Proposal: nursing insurance – initiative of the MP (leading party) and a group of experts – so called „Green book” launched in September 2010

Working caregiver perspective

VW project

Typical conflicts at work Lack of concentration and constant “thinking” of

the care Tiredness and stress, worsened physical condition

(e.g spine aches) Hindrance or limitation to their professional careers or

working opportunities (taking part in trainings, conferneces, etc)

Changes to organization/hours of work („bringing work home”, re-arranging work schedule, need to take a sick leave)

Lack of possibility for additional income The self – employed : fewer conflicts, reconciliation easier

21 persons reported „no impact” on work situation

Typical conflicts in private life Lack of time „for everything” Conflicts with family members (very often

with siblings) Everyday stress, hassle Depression Health deterioration Abandonment of social life, limited possibility

for relax and leisure activities

Dimensions of help/support

Support measures received by our working carers

FRIENDS,NEIGHBOURS

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

THIRD SECTOR

Successful strategies

Instrumental

strategies

Psychological

strategies

Some needs and expectations Towards different state stakeholders:

System of information Daily care centers, especially in rural area Increase number of hours of formal carers Possibility to have support in case of emergency

Towards employers: Work from home Flexible working hours

Towards civil society: Creating social networks (neighbouring support at

local leven needed)

Not working caregiver perspective

Balance of Human Capital Survey, 2011

NOT able to WORK because of CARE 7% of respondents is saying that it makes

difficult to find a job because of a need to take care of older family member

Mostly: Women (~70%) rural and cities between 100-199 th (13.6%) 45-54 (31.5%) Married/partners Education


20

Source: Human Capital Balance Survey, 2011, 2nd Wave

Employers perspective

ASPA project

Disruption from care responsibilities


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Source: ASPA project, own calculation for selected countries, sample size of PL = 1044

How often do family elder care responsibilities (e.g. towards parents, parents-in-law etc.) disrupt the daily work of older employees (50-plus)?

Work – care options (occasionally/often)1. Abseentism/Sick leave - 46.9%

2. Reduce working hours - 28.2%

3. Retire early - 24%

4. Give up working - 9.5%

5. Increase working hours - 9.5%


23Source: ASPA project, own calculation for selected countries, sample size of PL = 1044

Q: Employees cope differently with the combination of work and family elder care responsibilities. To balance work and care, how often do older employees (50-plus) choose to ...

Some recommendations

1. Various, tailored and adequate solutions of helping employed who have to work and care

2. More public debate with various actors to implement various measures

3. More education and information to explain what could be done to help working caregivers

General recommendations

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Introduction flexible forms of work (ie. different hours)

special leaves of absence and allowances (the risk that the idea is great but who can finance it?)

support in care giving obligations (NGO’s) special bonuses from employers (ie. financial

and as well additional help)

More concrete recommendations for reconciliation work and care

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remuneration for the persons caring for their old relatives

enabling non-full time employment assuring (by the State) public services for the

care givers organization of trainings and workshops

dealing with the practical problems of caring for an older person

social actions promoting family bonds and raising awareness about the duties towards elderly parents

More detailed recommendations for reconciliation work and care

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References

Activating Senior Potentials in Ageing Europe

http://www.aspa-eu.com/


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Carers@Work Between Job and Care: Conflict or

Opportunity? A Strategy for Securing Sustainable Future

Care and Productivity Potentials in an Ageing Society - A European Comparison

Project with J. Stypińska at the Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

http://www.carersatwork.tu-dortmund.de/en/index.php

References

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THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!

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Combining paid work and family care-giving in Poland Jolanta Perek-Białas Institute of Statistics...

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