Work, Care and Policy: Evaluating Carer-Inclusive Workplace Tools to Support Canada's Care Economy

Abstract

Carer-employees (CEs)—individuals who balance paid employment with unpaid caregiving responsibilities—represent a growing portion of Canada’s workforce, with over 5.2 million individuals navigating this dual role. This population faces considerable challenges to their mental, physical, and economic well-being. In response, a number of tools and standards have been developed to promote carer-inclusive and accommodating workplace practices. This mixed-methods thesis evaluates the uptake and effectiveness of two such initiatives across Canadian workplaces. Study 1 investigates the adoption of the CSA B701:17 (R2021) Carer-Inclusive and Accommodating Organizations Standard and its accompanying handbook. Despite the standard’s potential to guide employers in supporting CEs, uptake has been minimal since its 2017 release. Using a purposive sampling approach, the study collected survey data (n = 71) and conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 11) with Canadian employers. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to assess predictors of formal uptake, while qualitative thematic analysis identified common workplace policies and barriers. Findings reveal that only 24% of respondents had implemented the Standard, with existing support structures and full implementation status being strong predictors of uptake. Thematic results highlighted the crucial role of workplace culture in supporting or hindering caregiver-friendly practices. Study 2 evaluates a national knowledge mobilization (KMb) campaign aimed at increasing awareness and uptake of caregiver-friendly workplace practices (CFWPs). Phase I of the campaign involved the publication of four articles in leading national industry magazines targeting human resources professionals, occupational health and safety professionals, and small-to-medium-sized business employers. Phase II featured a three-part webinar series designed to complement the articles. Engagement metrics—collected via social media analytics, website data, and registration systems—were analyzed to assess campaign reach and effectiveness. In total, the campaign garnered over 36,000 views, 2,469 unique views, 55,445 social media impressions, and 432 social media clicks. Article 3, tailored to small and medium-sized businesses, demonstrated the highest level of engagement. Results show that targeted, paid publication efforts had the greatest impact on knowledge dissemination and tool uptake. Taken together, these studies highlight the importance of tailoring tools and dissemination strategies to specific workplace contexts. Future work should prioritize employer engagement and explore mechanisms for embedding caregiver support into organizational culture and policy.