Prendersi cura dei caregiver: il contributo delle aziende e dei provider di servizi

Although no data is quantifying exactly the number of informal caregivers in Italy, according to a 2018 ISTAT survey there are more than 12 million people between the ages of 18 and 64 who take care of a family member (Istat, 2018) and the figure is continuously growing. This has led scholars to investigate the positive and negative aspects of being a caregiver. Within this framework, the research project named "For caregiver, not caregiving" was born, addressed to HR managers and corporate welfare providers to identify policies that can support the caregiver in the work-life balance and more specifically e) Understanding the policies and organizational practices promoted by providers and HR managers to promote caregivers' careers f) To understand the providers' and HR managers' views on caregivers' career development g) To investigate the role of care providers and HR in supporting caregivers in the performance of their care tasks and their career development h) To investigate in depth the caregivers' experiences following the pandemic. These objectives were explored through qualitative methodology. The sample consisted of 20 respondents, 10 from human resources management of large companies and 10 from corporate welfare providers. The research showed how caregiver employees experience a balance between the work and personal spheres, thanks to work-life balance practices and the services and products offered by companies. Furthermore, it emerged how there should be fruitful interaction between corporate welfare providers, human resources management, and employee caregivers to enhance life experiences that lead to acquiring different skills useful in the working world.