Caring for the (informal) caregiver in the workplace

Abstract

The nature of jobs is changing as the global economy force organizations to become competitive and more of a virtual organisation of which the focus is more on team work. It is natural to look after the sick, elderly, disabled and children though those who care for these people tend to be forgotten. This study is an investigation of one of these informal caregivers. The roads on this journey (study) with the various cross-roads, intersections, paths and tracks were explored by means of multiple qualitative approaches. The respondent received an active role to voice her story as transcribed in her diaries. She deconstructed it accordingly of which the complexities thereof was holistically processed by means of Gabek (GAnzheitliche BEwältigung von Komplexität – a holistic processing of complexity). The uniqueness of this story can not necessarily be generalised though it can be used to prospectively identify the needs of the respondent. This can lead to adverse research outcomes associated with caregiving and target them for a prevention-focused intervention for others. This will help employers and employees in the art of balancing family responsibilities and workplace outputs.

AFRIKAANS : Die aard van werk verander voortdurend namate die wêreldwye ekonomie organisasies dwing om al meer kompeterend mee te ding en ‘n spanbenadering te volg. Om siekes, oues van dae, kinders en gestremdes te versorg, is ‘n normale verantwoordelikheid in die samelewing, maar die versorgers self word afgeskeep. Hierdie studie fokus op die verhaal en belewenis van sodanige versorger. Die bane van die ondersoekreis met hulle verskeie kruispaaie, kruisings en spore is via veelvuldige kwalitatiewe weë ondersoek. Die respondent in die ondersoek het 'n aktiewe rol ingeneem om sodoende haar verhaal te verwoord deur middel van die dekonstruksie van haar dagboek. Die verweefde dinamiek hiervan is holisties prosesseer via die GABEK metodiek (GAnzheitliche BEwältigung von Komplexität –'n holistiese prossesering van kompleksiteit). Weens die uniekheid en subjektiwiteit van die verhaal, kan die spesifieke uitkomste hiervan nie noodwendig veralgemeen word nie, maar kan die behoeftes van die spesifieke informele versorger uitgewys word. Dit kan die weg baan vir wyer navorsing en moontlik lei tot sinvolle intervensie aan ander informele versorgers. Dit sal werkgewers en werknemers help in die fyn kuns om gesinsverantwoordelikhede en werksplek-uitsette sinvol te kan balanseer.