"As child care costs outpace wages, more families are facing difficult decisions about whether to scale back work in order to care for loved ones. Caregiving remains the top reason women ages 25-54 leave the workforce. And it's not just parents who struggle. Nearly 60 million Americans provide care for an adult family member, and two-thirds say they have trouble balancing their jobs with their caregiving responsibilities."
"When the demands become too much to juggle, some people quit their jobs, cut back on their hours or turn down promotions in order to provide unpaid care. For many households, that's a financial strain; others save money that way. But even so, the decision can feel heavy - like leaving behind a sense of purpose that extends beyond the family."
"For many people, work and family are central to identity and how they hope to make a difference in the world. Men and women struggling with whether to step back from a career may wonder whether doing so is the best use of skills or training. Do we owe the world something "bigger"? As much as we care about loved ones, caregiving can feel too small and personal to matter."
Child care costs are rising faster than wages, prompting many families to scale back paid work to provide care. Caregiving is the leading reason women ages 25–54 leave the workforce. Nearly 60 million Americans provide care for an adult family member, with two-thirds reporting difficulty balancing jobs and caregiving; almost one in four working caregivers miss work or are less productive because of care duties. Some people quit, cut hours, or turn down promotions to provide unpaid care, producing financial strain for many. These choices raise questions about meaningful work, obligations to others, and how ethics can clarify the moral value of caregiving without offering tidy answers.
Read at The Conversation
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