These employees have a double work day. After your work hours, there is no doubt to rest. They expire and take care of a loved one in poor health: a father at the end of life, a child with disabilities …
In France, between 8 and 11 million people are caregivers, according to the Ministry of Labor, and more than 60% of them are employed at the same time. With the aging of the population, one in four employees could be in an aid situation for 2030, according to the OCIRP (union of previous non -profit institutions).
Fear of being penalized
The consequences in their work and health are alarming: mental and physical exhaustion, absenteeism, isolation … to relieve them a little, the law provides for several devices, in particular the possibility of taking a close caregiver (three renewable months) or financial aid. But they are very little used.
“Most caregivers are not aware of their situation or their rights, others are afraid to be fired or be penalized if they talk about it, they must make awareness, communication,” said BFM Business Monique Vignau, National Secretary of the UNSA in charge of the social sector.
Companies such as IBM or Macif have signed a specific agreement on the subject with unions.
Additional vacations, teleworking …
At the end of May, it was the Postal Bank that signed an agreement of the company specially dedicated to caregivers. Unanimity ratified unions provides in particular three days of additional license per year, more teleworking, particularly in the house of nearby aid and the possibility of benefiting from the donations of the solidarity day.
“There was a common desire for management and unions to formalize and supervise the uses and practices, sometimes informal, that were already in force in the company to support caretakers, the latter is not always well informed about the procedure to follow,” Nathalie Moché, SNB/CFE-CGC delegated within the company.
More difficult to take into account in vSes
But taking into account these problems differs greatly depending on business. “Large companies are more systematically seized on the subject, there are negotiations with unions, etc.,” says Monique Vignau de UNSA.
In this context, formalizing the rights of caregivers in branch agreements is a particularly recommended solution in an opinion presented by France’s strategy in 2022 “. The measures included in a branch agreement could have more scope in the sense that they automatically cover the smallest members,” explains the report.
But in 2022, only 10 collective agreements of 1,102 had initiated actions in favor of caregivers, even according to this report. And a single branch (that of hotels, coffee shops, restaurants) mentions psychological support for caregivers, “while it is an important device, since it is not limited to dealing with the economic situation of caregivers, but also to their health, especially mental.”
Brake races and mental health risks
29% of caregivers believe that their mental health is “bad” or “very at risk”, according to a survey conducted by a great place to work. And women are particularly worried.
A third of women aged 55 to 64 declare to help a relative regularly. And 60% of them report that they suffer from at least one physical or psychological disorder (back pain, anxiety, fatigue, loneliness, sleep disorders or palpitations).
According to an Elabe survey conducted for UNEDED, 25% of caregivers even rejected a promotion due to their situation. However, the good support of the company can change everything. In fact, caregivers who have benefited from support say they are much more satisfied than others in their professional life.
Source: BFM TV
