The LiveOn NY Family Caregiver Coalition, together with the National Alliance for Caregiving, Recognize Comptroller Stringer’s Commitment to Improving the Lives of NYC Caregivers
LiveOn NY (formerly known as The Council of Senior Centers and Services, CSCS), one of New York’s leading advocates for seniors, today presented New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer with the Champion of Caregiving Award for his tireless efforts to address the difficult challenges facing family caregivers, specifically those who are trying to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
The award was presented in conjunction with the LiveOn NY Family Caregiver Coalition and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
In presenting the award to the Comptroller, Igal Jellinek, Executive Director of LiveOn NY, said, “At any given moment across New York State, more than four million family caregivers are providing unpaid care for a loved one. Many struggle to balance the caregiving demands with responsibilities of work, career and home. As New York’s elderly population continues to skyrocket, caregiving and workplace flexibility are fast becoming the workforce issues of the 21st century, particularly for women.
“Scott Stringer understands that workplace flexibility is key to supporting these caregivers and helping them maintain balance and stability in their lives. The Comptroller’s leadership in this area and his staunch advocacy for ‘Right to Request’ legislation will reshape the workplace of the future by promoting work-life balance and creating a framework for caregivers to discuss flexible work arrangements that fit the unique needs of businesses and their workforces. LiveOn NY is proud to present him with this Champion of Caregiving Award,” Jellinek concluded.
“Too often, caregivers are forced to make the impossible choice between holding onto their jobs or taking care of their family. It’s a choice no New Yorker should have to make,” said NYC Comptroller Stringer. “I will continue to champion the needs of the one in five Americans who provide elder care, including advocating for a “Right to Request” law that allows employees to ask for flex time without fear of reprisal.”
In a study issued in June 2014 (Families and Flexibility: Reshaping the Workplace for the 21st Century), the Comptroller reported that 65 percent of caregivers said they had to shift their arrival or departure time or take time off from work to care for loved ones. The report further found that “Despite these tectonic shifts in American family life, many of our workplaces remain attached to inflexible work rules that adhere to a 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. workday spent within the confines of the traditional office. This inflexibility affects the lives of practically all New Yorkers, particularly caregivers” and others.
In the report, Comptroller Stringer provided a list of “best practices” for employers and
employees vis-à-vis flex scheduling and urged government at all levels to explore “Right to Request” legislation, which can create a framework for employees to seek out flexible schedules from employers without imposing a one-size-fits-all mandate.
Jellinek also noted that Comptroller Stringer has demonstrated a long-term commitment to caregivers, pointing to a landmark report co-authored by Stringer, when he was Manhattan Borough President, and the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association that laid out a roadmap for New York City to address Alzheimer’s disease and specific caregiving issues.
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ABOUT LiveOn NY: LiveOn NY, formerly the Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS), is a non-profit organization dedicated to making New York a better place to age. Founded in 1979, LiveOn NY is recognized as a leader in aging that connects resources, advocates for positive change, and builds, supports and fosters innovation. Our goal is to help all New Yorkers age with confidence, grace and vitality.
