The invisible work
« I don’t talk about my reality at work. I worry that my colleagues will think I’m less available. So I keep it to myself… and sometimes, I feel like no one notices what I’m carrying. »
Caregiving is very often left unspoken, for many reasons.
Sometimes, it’s because the person in this role does not yet identify with the term, since they associate their responsibilities with a family duty or simply do not realize the extent of the support they provide. Other times, fear of prejudice causes this role to be erased.
Valérie Hébert, a caregiver, shares her observations about the invisibility of this role in the workplace and in society in general. In light of these findings, Mélanie Montpetit, a psychosocial worker with Groupe des aidants du Sud-Ouest (GASO), presents the consequences of this invisibility and the benefits of recognizing this role.
This capsule is for you if you are a caregiver and:
You rarely use the term “caregiver” to describe your role
Are you afraid of being penalized for bringing up your situation at work?
You feel alone when faced with the challenges of this role
You want to identify ways to ask for support
Additional tools
Tips for informing your employer (Proche aidance Québec)
Personalized Support
Between the Waves … it’s more than an online program! The South-West Caregivers Group (GASO) is committed to making a wide range of evening services accessible to better support working caregivers.
The following services are available in the evening and free of charge:
Individual support meetings
Virtual support group (in English)
Virtual conferences
Art therapy workshops