Caring for the carers

Did you know that 1 in 8 employees are carers for friends or family members? As an employer, you can make it easier for them to stay in work by becoming a Carewise carer-friendly workplace.

It’s quite likely that someone in your workplace is a carer for a friend or family member who is unwell, frail or has a chronic condition or disability. It can be tough for them, juggling their commitments to work and to the person they support.

By becoming a Carewise Workplace, you can access free employer tools to help you retain a valuable staff member, who may be feeling they have to leave their job or reduce their hours to cope with their additional responsibilities.

CareWise is part of Carers NZ, a national not-for-profit organisation. When you commit to being a carer-friendly employer, you receive a welcome pack and are guided through the CareWise Self-Review, giving you recommendations to follow based on five key aspects. Along with employer resources, CareWise also provides support for the employee who is the carer.

When you commit to being a CareWise workplace, you receive a CareWise badge to display in your workplace, along with employer tools and support for staff who are caring for someone.

CASE STUDY:

caring for a parent with dementia

Andy says it’s hard to put into words what it’s been like caring for his elderly mother for the last seven years.

She has dementia but remains fiercely independent, refusing outside help. Andy is her sole carer.

“What it comes down to is all I’m doing is giving back. Mum cared for me since I was a baby, so it’s the least I can do. I’m just someone who’s trying to do the best they can.”

Andy juggles his caring role with his technician’s job in South Auckland. He has worked for the company for more than 30 years. Andy says his team is fantastic, and a great example of how workplaces can support carers like him, so they can keep working and earning.

“I’m lucky to have flexibility of hours. My workmates ask about my situation and whether there’s anything they can do. I’ve been granted the yearly 10 days of domestic leave, which is usually allocated for parents with kids, and it makes such a difference.”

“If I ask for a couple of hours off to take Mum to a medical appointment or whatever, it’s granted immediately. I do a really good job as well so I do believe it’s a two-way street.”

Andy works full-time, sticking to normal business hours where possible. In the evenings he prepares a meal which he shares with his Mum, who lives in her own home nearby.

“Before I leave I’ll check everything is secure then go home to do my own chores, waking up at 5.30am for work.”

It can be a lonely life with little time for personal activities. “One thing I am very grateful for is a solid group of friends who keep an eye on me and support wherever they can.”

Despite the challenges, Andy is glad to be there for his Mum. “I see it as a gift.”

5 STRINGS TO SAFETY

How many strings do you have on your ‘insurance parachute’? Crombie Lockwood explains how each contributes to your business safety.

Business insurance is a funny old* thing. You pay your premium every year, hoping you never have to use what it is you are buying. And that is actually the secret.

Just like the strings between you and the parachute—you hope you don’t have to use them but when you do, you really need them to work. In the case of Master Plumbers Insurance there are five strings to your ‘insurance parachute’, each one contributing to your business safety. 1 Your property and assets (the physical things your business needs) are covered by the Material Damage policy. This is the most basic and important of your business insurances. 2 Obviously you need to cover your van or other business vehicles, which will be included in the Commercial Motor cover. In this case the word ‘commercial’ is important. Your own private vehicle won’t be covered if it is being used for ‘business purposes’. 3 Having Public Liability insurance is compulsory for Master Plumber members. It protects you (and our collective trade reputation) if you are found to be legally liable for damage to another party’s property or person—for example the 2019 gas explosion in Christchurch. 4 Statutory Liability as the name implies, provides cover for inadvertent breaches of many regulations and Acts, brought against you by a regulatory authority. The most important among the many Acts covered are Resource Management Act, Health & Safety at Work Act (fines not included) and Fair Trading Act. 5 The fifth, and increasingly important insurance thread, is Professional Indemnity. Known as PI, this liability cover defends you against claims of professional negligence and the costs suffered by an affected third party. For example if you recommend and fit a particular valve that later fails and causes flooding of your client’s premises.

* When we say old, we mean it; insurance was ‘invented’ at Lloyd’s Coffee House, London, in the late 1690s.

In the next issue Crombie Lockwood will take you through some tips and tricks to make sure you always have the right cover for your individual business. Meantime, if you need advice or just help with understanding your current insurances, email vaughan.bridges@crombielockwood.co.nz

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0800 866 766 crombielockwood.co.nz/ masterplumbers

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