Abstract
Care giving can be a challenging task in contemporary working culture due to high level of competition, stress, responsibilities, and inadequate support from organizations or government. The leave management policies of India aim to balance maintenance of individual wellbeing and achievement of organizational goals. Living in a collectivist society, every individual is bound by responsibilities of self and those dependent on him/her, which further accelerates inability to manage work life balance if not given adequate external support. Purpose of the study was to articulate the need for dedicated Parent Care Leave in Indian Corporates and understand the key aspects like organizational support, extension of leaves, financial and social compensation, the role of gender and distribution work, rising need of healthcare assistance by companies, etc. The study's main findings indicate that to maintain work-life balance, employees in Indian corporations—public and private—need to be integrated into programs for the assistance of elderly dependents or non-statutory parent care leave compliance. The participants emphasized the importance of helping employees meet their basic needs, uphold high standards in their personal as well as their professional lives, to help them reach their full potential in the psycho-social domain through flexible work culture designs. The study indicated a requirement for a more inclusive, flexible and sustainable environment to retain employees and provide a supportive work atmosphere. The sample consisted of 10 participants, whereas the saturation was achieved after the 6th participant. The data was analyzed and was coded through repeated measures and were placed under four broader themes namely- Financial and social assistance, Healthcare and medical facilities, Gender and responsibility, and Effect on work life balance.
Keywords: Parent Care, Assistance, Elderly Dependents, Insurance, Medical Support, Work Life Balance.
References
1.Activity theory. (2018, August 22). Social Sci LibreTexts. https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Sociology/Introduction_to_Sociology/Sociology_(Boundless)/18%3A_Aging/18.03%3A_The_Functionalist_Perspective_on_Aging/18.3B%3A_Activity_Theory
2. Chadda, R. K., & Deb, K. S. (2013). Indian family systems, collectivistic society and psychotherapy. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(Suppl 2), S299–S309. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.105555
3. Child care leave for women employees | biswanath district | government of assam, india. (n.d.). Retrieved 23 April 2023, from https://biswanath.gov.in/information-services/child-care-leave-for-women-employees
4. Disengagement theory—An overview | sciencedirect topics. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/disengagement-theory
5. Ghosh, A. (2022, August 28). As lifespans rise, India is realising caring for its seniors makes good business sense too. ThePrint. https://theprint.in/india/as-lifespans-rise-india-is-realising-caring-for-its-seniors-makes-good-business-sense-too/1101715/
6. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/5057/505754110021.pdf
7. López, J., López-Arrieta, J., & Crespo, M. (2005). Factors associated with the positive impact of caring for elderly and dependent relatives. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 41(1), 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2004.12.001
8. Medical benefits to dependent parents of employees. (n.d.). https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1596307
9. Parent care leave—The time has come. (n.d.). https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/parent-care-leave-time-has-come-sangeeta-murthi-sahgal