2015 Business X-Change - 8/12

Description

BUSINESS X-CHANGE - August 12, 2015
 
Business X-Change meets regularly throughout the year at the Portage County Business Council office. A roundtable series of meetings that allows business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from local industry leaders and, most importantly, learn from each other. 
 
There is no cost to attend and a continental breakfast is included.
 
7:30-8:30 am in the Portage County Business Council Foundation Room


Topic: "Educational Resources to Help Employers Support Working Caregivers"
 
Presented by:

Tonia Simmons, Caregiver Support Services Director


​Cindy Piotrowski, Director

Because a large percentage of family caregivers also work, it is important for employers to be aware of caregiving issues.  Caregiving has a cost for both the employees and the employers. Employees caring for aging loved ones take time off for many different reasons, some positions then require a substitute while others leave work undone.  Either way, the employer is paying for unproductive time. That cost can be minimized by fostering workplace environments that are supportive of the needs of working caregivers. This X-Change will look at the cost of caregiving and introduces participants to several cases that are typical of the struggles faced by working caregivers.  It shares information regarding several tools developed by UW Cooperative Extension to help employers as well as aging network professionals and educators that work with employers.


Learning Objectives:
As a result of attending and participating in this X-Change, participants will be able to:
1.    Identify the impacts of caregiving on both employees and employers.
2.    Provide examples of the kind of caregiving situations typically experienced by employees who struggle to simultaneously balance work and elder care.
3.    Access resources that will enable employers to foster a workplace environment that is more supportive of working caregivers.

About our Speakers: 

Tonia Simmons received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Human Resource Management. Tonia facilitates the Caregiver Coalition in Portage County and has experience working directly with caregivers to help identify financial and emotional resources available.

Cindy Piotrowski received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a double major in Communication and Psychology. Prior to working with ADRC Cindy was the Executive Director at the Epilepsy Foundation of Central and Northeast Wisconsin for eight years. Other career highlights include working as the Director of Operations for St. Vincent DePaul in Plover, WI and the Communication Manager for CAP Services in Stevens Point


Special THANK YOU to Aging & Disability Resource Center of Portage County for their sponsorship of this program.