Building Caregiver-Friendly Workplaces with Donna Thomson

In this inaugural episode of Working Caregivers, The Invisible Employees, we are thrilled to welcome an incredible guest, Donna Thomson. Donna is a caregiver, educator, advocate, and co-author of The Unexpected Journey of Caring. She shares her personal caregiving journey and the powerful transformation that occurs when you become a caregiver. We dive deep into the challenges of caregiving, the impact on the workforce, and the need for employers to create caregiver-friendly workplaces.Donna discusses the importance of flexibility and compassion in the workplace, offering practical insights on how leaders can support their employees who are also caregivers. We explore key topics from Donna’s book and learn how caregiving is not just about managing tasks—it’s about embracing personal transformation and understanding the value of care. Episode Highlights:[2:04] Donna Thomson's Background and Books[4:25] "The Unexpected Journey of Caring"[10:09] Challenges and Questions for Working Caregivers[13:52] Employer Perspective and Business Leaders[17:33] Resources and Support for Caregivers[22:40] Caregiving in Canada and North America[26:21] Final Advice and Contact InformationLinks & Resources:Donna Thomson's website: https://www.donnathomson.com/Donna on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna4walls/The Unexpected Journey of Caring Authors Donna Thomson and Zachary WhiteThe Four Walls of My FreedomCreating Caregiver-Friendly Workplaces - Free course by McMaster University Continuing Education: https://continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs/health-social-services/creating-caregiver-friendly-workplaces/If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.