Lebenssituation von erwerbstätigen, pflegenden Angehörigen mit gleichzeitiger Erziehungsverantwortung: Phänomenologische Studie in der deutschsprachigen Schweiz unter besonderer Berücksichtigung betriebswirtschaftlicher Aspekte

Carlen, Fernando (2021) Lebenssituation von erwerbstätigen, pflegenden Angehörigen mit gleichzeitiger Erziehungsverantwortung: Phänomenologische Studie in der deutschsprachigen Schweiz unter besonderer Berücksichtigung betriebswirtschaftlicher Aspekte. DBA thesis, Middlesex University / KMU Akademie & Management AG. [Thesis]

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Abstract

Initial situation: In Switzerland, the majority of care for chronically ill people and those in need of care is provided at home by family caregivers. Two-thirds of the 600,000 family caregivers are employed, and the majority of them live in a partnership and have children. Those affected are exposed to different stresses and the situation of simultaneous employment, care of relatives and family results in reconciliation challenges. Companies are also confronted with the issue of family caregivers. Despite this relevance, scientific findings on this specific life situation are lacking in German-speaking Switzerland. This dissertation fills this research gap.

Question: The empirical question is: "How do working, caring relatives with child-rearing responsibilities experience their life situation in German-speaking Switzerland? The primary goal is to understand the entire life situation and to formulate business management measures.

Methodology: A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted to fill the research gap. The 26 narrative interviews were analyzed using an interpretive, phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. A competence request to the Swiss Ethics Committee has been made.

Results: The analysis revealed four main themes: Self-perception of family caregivers, family, help and support, and employment. The overriding theme is individuality in experience. Accepting help in the care situation often represents a demanding learning process for those affected; there is little time for children and partnership and a guilty conscience is often unavoidable. However, family support is systemically relevant. Further assistance is provided to those affected by informal and professional help. In the case of professional help, the "debt to fetch" and the "insurance jungle" are often criticized. Gainful employment represents an important source of energy, which is experienced as a balance to the care and family situation. There, those affected experience understanding and support. Alongside the family, employment represents the central resource for coping with the life situation with care responsibilities.

Recommendations: Building on theory and the results section, various recommendations for action were formulated. From a business perspective, reinforcing previous engagement and operationalizing it is important. For Switzerland, the results of the present study are to be incorporated into the national (research-)project on support and relief for caregiving relatives.

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