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Thuringian Agency For Skilled Personnel Marketing (ThAFF)

Company Care Kit Thuringia

Knowledge and support on the topic of work and care

Caring for a relative often brings new challenges. At the same time, professional obligations must be managed. The Thuringia Company Care Kit supports employees with caregiving responsibilities as well as employers in better reconciling work and care.

The Thuringia Company Care Kit bundles important information, guidance, and support services on the topic of care. Employees receive answers to questions that arise when a care situation occurs. Employers find suggestions and tools for a care-sensitive corporate culture and sustainable skilled worker retention.

The Company Care Kit at a glance

  • Bundling of important information for employees with care responsibilities
  • Support in shaping a care-sensitive corporate culture
  • Facilitation of implementing a better compatibility of work and care
  • Time savings through compactly prepared and practical information
  • Reference to regional and supra-regional advisory and support services
  • Regular updating of the content

Information for employers

Information for employees

Initial information and support services

On the website of the Thuringian Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Labour and Family you will find an overview of Contact and advice centres as well as information on the services offered by statutory long-term care insurance and legal regulations.

Information for employers

How can you as an employer support employees with care responsibilities?

With the Thuringia Corporate Care Kit, you provide your employees with reliable information on reconciling work and caregiving while also strengthening your attractiveness as an employer.

Retain skilled workers

Support in challenging life situations strengthens employee loyalty.

Provide guidance

Concise, well-prepared information saves time for managers and HR professionals.

Strengthen corporate culture

Care-aware companies are perceived as attractive employers.

Reduce absence risks

Early support helps avoid unplanned absences.

Practical tips for employers

  • Why should companies address the topic of caregiving?

    More and more employees are taking on responsibility for the care or support of relatives. In addition to the actual care, this often includes doctor's visits, trips to government offices, organizational tasks, or accompanying them in everyday life.

    These additional tasks must be reconciled with the demands of the job. For companies, this topic is therefore becoming increasingly important. According to estimates, in many companies around 20 percent of employees take on care or support tasks in a family environment.

    Supporting employees in this phase of life strengthens employee loyalty, reduces the risk of absence, and makes an important contribution to securing skilled workers.

  • Where can employers find tried-and-tested information and examples?

    The company network “Erfolgsfaktor Familie”, an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), offers publications, practical examples, and events for companies.

    The brochure “Employees with caregiving responsibilities need support” shows what challenges employees with caregiving responsibilities face and which support measures companies of various sectors and sizes are successfully implementing.

  • How does family-friendliness support the securing of skilled workers?

    A corporate culture geared to families and different life phases is becoming increasingly important for attracting and retaining skilled workers. Employees identify more strongly with their employer when it supports them in different life situations.

    Practical suggestions for developing a family-friendly corporate culture are provided in the brochure “Make your corporate culture family-friendly“.

  • What distinguishes the compatibility of work and caregiving from the compatibility of work and family?

    Caring for relatives often presents employees with particular challenges:

    • The need for care often arises at short notice and unexpectedly.
    • Solutions must be organized within a short time.
    • The duration and scope of the care situation are usually difficult to plan.
    • Many of those affected are under high psychological and physical strain.

    This is why employees often need different and more flexible support services than in other family life phases.

  • Which family-friendly measures also help employees with caregiving responsibilities?

    Many measures that companies already offer to reconcile work and family life also support employees with caregiving responsibilities.

    These include in particular:

    • Flexible working hours
    • Part-time models
    • Mobile working or home office
    • Individual solutions for working hours and work organization
    • Team communication and representation arrangements

    The key is to work together with those affected to find individual solutions that meet both operational requirements and the care situation.

Our service for you

The Thuringian Agency For Skilled Personnel Marketing (ThAFF) supports companies in shaping a family-friendly and care-sensitive corporate culture.

These include:

  • Information and impulses on reconciling work and caregiving
  • Events and further training opportunities
  • Digital support services
  • Exchange of experience and networking
  • Individual advice and exchange

This enables companies to develop a corporate culture that supports employees in different phases of life and at the same time contributes to securing skilled workers.

Dr. Sigrun Fuchs

Dr. Sigrun Fuchs

Thuringian Agency For Skilled Personnel Marketing
Doreen Emmerich

Doreen Emmerich

Thuringian Agency For Skilled Personnel Marketing

Information for employees

Need for care in the family – what now?

When a relative becomes in need of care, everyday life often changes from one day to the next. In addition to the emotional strain, numerous organizational, legal and financial questions must be clarified.

The Company Care Kit supports you in finding your bearings and planning the next steps. It offers information on reconciling work and caregiving, guidance on counseling and support services, as well as practical tips for conversations with your employer.

The goal is to help you reconcile caregiving responsibilities and work as well as possible.

What should be done when a care case arises?

The need for care often arises unexpectedly. The following steps help to structure the situation:

  • Get an overview of important documents belonging to the person in need of care (e.g. health insurance, family doctor, existing powers of attorney).

  • Apply for long-term care insurance benefits from the health insurance fund of the person in need of care as early as possible.

  • Clarify with your employer whether short-term leave is required and seek a discussion about how to further shape your professional activity.

  • Take advantage of the legally provided short-term leave of up to ten working days in the event of an acute change in the care situation.

  • Take advantage of care counseling from your health insurance provider.

  • Prepare for the assessment by the Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK) and plan to be present for the appointment.

  • Document the need for support in a "care diary", e.g. which activities require help and how much time they take.

  • Check which form of support is needed (relatives, outpatient care service or inpatient facility). If care at home is not possible, get information and advice about suitable inpatient care facilities. Price comparisons are advisable.

  • Are home modifications such as wider doors, stairlifts and grab bars necessary? The costs are supported by the long-term care insurance fund.

  • Apply for aids and attend a care course.

  • Make precautionary arrangements in good time, for example through a power of attorney for care or a living will.

When care and work are both part of everyday life

Many family caregivers face the challenge of reconciling professional demands and family responsibilities. There is no standard solution. It is important to seek support early and to develop suitable solutions together with the employer.

Conversations with employer and manager
  • Why should I seek the conversation early?

    Caring for a person in need of care requires time and flexibility. Working hours, appointments or availability often change at short notice.

    The earlier your manager or the HR department is informed about the situation, the better solutions can be found together.

  • How do I prepare for a conversation?

    Before the conversation, you should consider:

    • what you want to achieve with the conversation (information, signalling a need for support, jointly looking for a solution to reconcile work and care, etc.)
    • what exactly your family care or support situation looks like and
    • how this affects your employment (time-related effects, ensuring availability)
    • what changes or problems your situation may bring for the company
    • whether and what in your current working conditions would need to be adjusted in the short or long term so that you can reconcile caregiving and work
    • what proposed solutions you would like to offer your manager

    It is also helpful to note down important points in advance.

  • What should I pay attention to in the conversation?
    • Talk about your specific family situation and about how you envision a possible compatibility of employment and caregiving responsibilities. Present your concern point by point, state your need for support, and formulate initial suggestions.
    • Give your conversation partner the opportunity to ask questions or make comments.
    • Agree on the next steps. Your manager may need time before he can present you with a proposed solution.
    • If necessary, arrange another meeting.
Leave of absence and reduction of working hours

For employees with caregiving responsibilities, there are various legal options to temporarily adjust working hours or take a leave of absence.
These include in particular regulations from the Caregiver Leave Act and the Family Caregiver Leave Act. These are explained on the website and in brochures of the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

Information on family caregiving leave
Brochure “Reconciling caregiving and work”
Flyer “Better reconciliation of caregiving and work”

  • Who can help me with questions about caregiving?

    The first point of contact is usually the health insurance company of the person in need of care. There you will receive information on benefits, support options, and advisory services. Care advisors support you in finding suitable assistance and initiating the necessary steps.

    Before making personal Contactcontact, the health insurers' internet portals already offer extensive information on caring for relatives as well as an overview of available services such as service hotlines or online care advisors.

  • What do care support centers provide?

    Care support centers are neutral advisory services and offer insured persons of the long-term care insurance and their relatives comprehensive information, independent and free advice and support relating to care. In addition to concrete assistance, e.g. when applying for a care level, this includes in particular support for caring relatives in dealing with the new situation. 

    What does the support provided by the care advisory centers look like in concrete terms? 

    Here you will receive information on, among other things:

    • all questions relating to the need for care
    • suitable forms of housing and care
    • local care structures (outpatient and inpatient care providers)
    • support services in the residential environment
    • Support services (meals on wheels, household help, etc.)
    • Options for adapting living space
    • Offers for leisure and activity planning
    • Support for relatives (e.g. care courses)
  • What other contact points are there in Thuringia?

    Depending on the regional circumstances, you can contact:

    • Social welfare offices, citizens' and senior citizens' offices,
    • non-profit associations / welfare associations (Caritas, Diakonie, DRK, AWO, Johanniter, etc.) and
    • care service providers (outpatient and inpatient care facilities).

    An overview of the care service providers and support services available in your area can usually be found on the website of your city or district.

    You can also find on this website of the Thuringian Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Labour and Family information on Contact and advice centres, care support services and legal regulations.

Where can I find support for dementia or Alzheimer's?

Many people in need of care are (also) affected by dementia. This type of care is considered particularly challenging. Knowledge about the illness and the resulting behaviors of the person in need of care can make everyday life easier. Special services are available for this purpose.

Information, advice and support are provided by:

Thuringian Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Labour and Family 
Alzheimer Society Thuringia
German Alzheimer Society
Federal Ministry of Health

Why are a power of attorney for precautionary measures and a care directive important?

Precautionary arrangements help you remain able to act in difficult situations. They make decisions easier and create clarity for relatives.

Especially in connection with the need for care, a power of attorney for personal matters, a care directive and a living will are important instruments. Since these are very individual arrangements with far-reaching legal consequences, well-founded information is particularly important.

Information material, checklists and forms:

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