Caring for your loved ones who have physical or mental needs can be incredibly difficult. And balancing caregiving responsibilities with a career, personal life, and self-care can be a lot. That’s why, as part of our benefits package, we provide our employees with caregiving time off, time for employees to find a little breathing room and be more fully present at work and home.
Hear from Catie, Asst Dir HR Business Partner, as she navigated her mother’s life-changing diagnosis and used her caregiver time off to be there when it mattered most.
Catie knew something wasn’t right last September when she received a concerning text from her mother. Susan — a fiercely independent, active 76-year-old and a former Olympic swimmer living on her own who rarely asked for help — was weak, confused, and needed Catie by her side to get to the emergency room for a series of tests.
“She was an incredibly healthy, vibrant person — until she wasn’t,” Catie shared.
Doctors found that Susan had an inoperable brain tumor, with chemotherapy and radiation recommended for treatment.
For the next eight weeks, from diagnosis to starting treatment, to eventually Susan’s passing, Catie endured a rollercoaster of emotions. As she managed her mother’s doctor’s appointments, medications, and schedule of caregivers, Catie was able to use NM’s caregiving benefits to help ease the stress of this experience.
“I received caregiver leave, and I was able to take it to be with her when I needed to be. I let my boss know that I needed to be with my mom and he was incredibly supportive, and that was what I felt throughout the process, from not only my manager, but my colleagues and my team,” said Catie.
To process the grief of her mother’s passing, Catie took advantage of another employee benefit called Lyra, a provider of emotional and behavioral health support that helps employees and their families manage their mental well-being in a way that’s tailored to their specific needs.
At Northwestern Mutual, we are committed to providing our people with the best resources and care they need to manage unexpected life events. Learn more about the benefits we offer and be sure to check out our open roles.
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