How to get the support you need at work as a sandwich carer

The Sandwich Generation, those caught between caring for children and ageing parents, face unique challenges. Often unseen and unheard, their responsibilities can impact their work performance and overall wellbeing.  

Dr Sarah Cotton, co-director of Transitioning Well says the first step is awareness. “Many sandwich carers don’t identify themselves as such, attributing their stress and juggling act to ‘just life,’” she says.   

“The key is to normalise the conversation, encourage self-reflection, and acknowledge the immense responsibility they carry.” 

Communication and Flexibility 

Open communication with leaders is crucial says Sarah. Ideally, a supportive work environment fosters regular check-ins where sandwich carers can discuss their changing needs and explore flexible options. This might include adjusted schedules, remote work opportunities, or temporary leave arrangements. 

Creative Solutions 

Sandwich carers require innovative solutions. According to Sarah, leaders can explore implementing flexible work models, offering childcare or eldercare backup plans, or even creating peer support groups within the organisation. “The key is to move beyond traditional supports and embrace creative approaches that meet individual needs.” 

Beyond the Workplace 

Support shouldn’t be confined to the office says Sarah. “Encouraging sandwich carers to also connect with community resources empowers them to seek help beyond the workplace.” Opening up honest and courageous conversations with  with siblings, partners, and other family members can also significantly alleviate burdens and, for women, help them not fall into the default “daughter trap”. 

It’s a Team Effort 

Supporting sandwich carers is a shared responsibility. Individuals must advocate for themselves, but workplaces have a critical role to play in fostering understanding, offering flexibility, and connecting them to resources. By working together, we can create a more supportive environment for this growing segment of the workforce, allowing them to thrive both personally and professionally. Read on for our tips for organisations below.  

9 ORGANISATIONAL TIPS TO SUPPORT CARERS IN THE WORKPLACE   

Positive workplace policies and practices include:   

• Encourage flexible family arrangements, including flexible use of family leave in the family’s interests, across the various transitions of care 
• Provide education to the whole organisation about emotional and mental health at this life stage to increase capacity to identify and respond should they identify distress in themselves or others. 
• Provide access to carer-related support and direct services, including Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and dependent care assistance programs for mental health support if needed.  
• Provide access to job-protected paid family leave and Parental Leave, available equally to all parents and carers.  
• Champion and promote flexibility in senior leadership roles, so this is not seen as a barrier to professional development.  
• Establish peer networks to help individuals connect with and learn from the experiences of others.  
• Tackling gender equity at the start – visibly support and enable dads and non-birth partners to take longer periods of parental leave. Supporting dads and non-birth partners to take leave signals a greater investment in family life—reducing the burden on the mother and strengthening parental relationships. Use senior leadership as role models and explicitly address concerns about taking leave, reassuring workers of career growth and promotion opportunities.  
• Provide easy and independent access to policies and procedures so that workers can see what is available without having to ask.  
• Don’t ‘set and forget’. Consider what support is needed for all types of family carers, and how those needs change over time. For example, parenthood involves ongoing transition points as children grow from babies and toddlers to school-aged children and into adolescents.  

Know sandwich carers in your workplace who need extra support? To learn more about how Transitioning Well can help support parents and carers in your workplace, take a look at our transition coaching resources.