Elder Care: a growing issue for workers

By Thomson and ACIRRT

Responsibility for care of our elders has become an industrial issue.

Workers are continuing to work into their 60s and ma have to care for an ageing partner or ageing parents. Similar issues face these workers as those who have to care for young children. ADAM report no 41 looked at the incidence of clauses covering elder care.

The older population (65plus?) is set to double in the next 30 years whilst total population will increase by less than one quarter.

Carers will have more on their plate, and as many carers are not paid already, how will work structures be able to deal with the time requirements of elder care.

Enterprise clauses tend to be more concerned with young children. However carer sleave does usually have definitions of who are eligible care recipients. Access to permanent part time work and job sharing, in secure workplaces would be a big part of standard setting.

(ADAM Report no 41, June quarter 2004;

Thomson Workplace Intelligence August 2004)