Employees at Gorman-Rupp now have access to a pilot program aimed at helping workers manage caregiving responsibilities for older adults while maintaining their jobs.
The partnership between the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging and Gorman-Rupp is designed to support employees who provide care to an older family member or friend, according to a community announcement. The project is funded by the Administration for Community Living and the University of Southern California Center for Advancing Family Caregiving Financial and Workplace Security.
The pilot centers on a caregiver support toolkit intended to help employers better understand the number of working caregivers in their workforce, identify their needs and connect them with available resources.
Employees at Gorman-Rupp may voluntarily complete a survey that will help identify caregiving responsibilities among workers and increase awareness of services offered through the Area Agency on Aging. The effort also includes education and resource connections intended to help caregivers balance employment and caregiving demands.
"Working caregivers are an essential part of our workforce, yet many may not identify themselves as caregivers or know where to turn for support," Gorman-Rupp Human Resources Manager Tammy Rearic said. "This partnership provides an opportunity to increase awareness, connect employees with resources and learn how employers and aging services can work together to support caregivers."
Gorman-Rupp will serve as the lead employer partner in the pilot and help evaluate the toolkit's effectiveness by providing feedback on available resources.
According to the announcement, the Area Agency on Aging plans to use lessons from the pilot to expand outreach to additional employers throughout the region as more workers take on caregiving responsibilities for older adults.
Agency officials said the initiative is intended to strengthen collaboration between employers and aging-services providers while helping caregivers find support and information that may ease challenges at home and in the workplace.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Gorman-Rupp pilot helps employees balance caregiving and work