Hong Kong working carers shun family-friendly measures amid stigma fears: study
More than half of working carers in Hong Kong have never used the family-friendly measures offered by their companies, a study has found, sparking calls from experts to change workplace cultures to prevent carers being stigmatised. The findings came even as the study, released on Thursday, also showed carers benefited from measures such as flexible working hours and working from home, which led…
A recent study in Hong Kong has revealed that more than half of working carers have never utilized the family-friendly benefits provided by their employers, despite these measures being shown to improve their mental health and reduce the burden of caregiving. Led by Bobo Lau Hi-po, a professor at Tung Wah College, the study surveyed 566 full-time, part-time, or self-employed carers aged 21 to 73 who provide unpaid care for elderly family members.
The findings indicate that workplace stigma and concerns about colleagues' perceptions deter many carers from taking advantage of flexible working hours, remote work options, and part-time work. Rebecca Choy Yung, founder of the Golden Age Foundation, emphasized the importance of transparent communication around family-friendly policies to alleviate employees' hesitations.
The study suggests that more active promotion of these arrangements, alongside encouragement to utilize them, could significantly enhance employee well-being and foster a more supportive workplace culture.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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