Families often rely on one another during hard times. Sadly, few workplaces in Hawaii are understanding when it comes to caregiving responsibilities. Those who have to balance job responsibilities with caring for loved ones often feel as if they are failing at both, at least partially because of the caregiver discrimination they face at work.
Caregivers face added challenges
Experts predict there will be an exceptionally large number of elderly people who need care by as soon as 2030. Family caregivers are nothing new, though. Female caregivers are more than three times as likely to drop out of work because of caregiving responsibilities compared to their male counterparts. Both men and women take on caregiving roles though, with around 66% of all workers over the age of 50 having to adjust their hours or even leave their jobs to be caregivers.
When is it discrimination?
Identifying discrimination against caregivers is not always easy. Discrimination can sometimes look like taking away work assignments or refusing to provide accommodations once Family Medical Leave hours run out. Some of the following acts might also be indications of discrimination:
- Questioning whether a spouse should take over caregiving duties
- Refusing promotions until caregiving duties are concluded
- Warning caregivers not to take additional breaks in the future
Caregiver discrimination can be devastating to one’s career, and also tends to coincide with otherwise difficult times of life. Caregivers in Hawaii truly deserve better. Those who have been the victims of discrimination and are ready to hold their employers’ responsible for their actions often choose to pursue workplace discrimination lawsuits, which can provide necessary compensation while also influencing change in the workplace.