Caregiving doesn’t just happen at home—it happens at work, too. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Donna Benton, the Director of the Family Caregiver Support Center at the University of Southern California, to discuss the often-overlooked challenges faced by working caregivers. With over 28 years of experience, Dr. Benton shares invaluable insights on how workplaces can better support employees who are juggling their careers and caregiving responsibilities.

Episode Highlights:

[1:23] – Welcome to the show! Meet Selma, Zack, and our guest, Dr. Donna Benton.

[2:30] – Dr. Benton shares about her roots in Los Angeles and the diversity of her neighborhood.

[4:24] – The personal journey that led Dr. Benton into caregiver advocacy and research.

[6:57] – How universities like USC are leading the charge in caregiver education and support.

[9:53] – What does a Family Caregiver Resource Center actually do? Dr. Benton explains her day-to-day work.

[13:07] – How employees can access caregiver resources—even if their workplace isn’t offering support.

[15:43] – Can employers nationwide bring in educational workshops for caregivers? (Hint: Yes, and Dr. Benton tells you how!)

[19:36] – Why advocating for the Older Americans Act and work-life balance policies is crucial for working caregivers.

[22:07] – The biggest challenges employers will face in 2025 when it comes to supporting caregivers.

[27:07] – The myth of “vacation time” for caregivers—why we need better workplace policies.

[28:36] – The #1 thing caregivers wish they had known earlier (and what you need to do now).

[31:22] – Our challenge to HR leaders—who will be the first to take action?

Links & Resources:

· Dr. Donna Benton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-benton-74463118/

· USC Family Caregiver Support Center: https://losangelescrc.usc.edu/

· Jason Resendez and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC): https://www.caregiving.org/

· Caregiver Nation Summit by NAC: https://www.caregivernationsummit.org/

· Rosalynn Carter Quote for Caregivers

· Liz O'Donnell and Working Daughter website and Facebook: https://workingdaughter.com/ https://www.facebook.com/workingdaughter/

· Liz O'Donnell and Working Daughter PRIVATE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/workingdaughter

Zack challenges their listeners as to who will be the first HR leader to reach out to Dr. Benton and inquire about an educational program for their organization.

Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Madhavi Vemireddy, a powerhouse advocate for working caregivers and the Chief Executive Officer at Cleo. Dr. Vemireddy shares her personal caregiving journey—from navigating her son’s congenital heart disease and autism diagnosis to supporting aging parents—all while balancing a demanding career. We dive into the hidden struggles of working caregivers, the critical gaps in employer support, and how technology is stepping in to bridge the divide.

Are you a working caregiver feeling overwhelmed? Do you lead a team and want to create a more caregiver-friendly workplace? Tune in to hear Dr. Vemireddy’s expert insights on population health, caregiving burnout, and how employers can better support their invisible workforce.

Episode Highlights:

[1:36] – Welcome to the show! Zack and Selma introduce this week’s guest.
[2:17] – Dr. Vemireddy’s personal journey as a caregiver to her son and parents.
[9:33] – The emotional and physical toll of caregiving while working full-time.
[11:54] – How Cleo is using technology and coaching to support caregivers.
[17:30] – Why caregiving is hidden in the workplace and what employers can do about it.
[25:09] – The mental health impact of caregiving and why it’s costing companies more than they realize.
[31:37] – Why Dr. Vemireddy left traditional medicine to focus on caregiver advocacy.
[36:51] – How employers can connect with Cleo to build a more caregiver-supportive workplace.

👩‍⚕️ About Dr. Madhavi Vemireddy

Madhavi Vemireddy, MD is the CEO of Cleo, having previously served as Chief Clinical Officer. A board-certified internal medicine physician, she has over 20 years of experience in clinical analytics, population health, and digital health solutions.

As a working caregiver herself, Dr. Vemireddy co-founded CareTribe, a company dedicated to supporting family caregivers, which was acquired by Cleo in 2022. She has held leadership roles at ActiveHealth Management and Aetna Care Management (CVS Health), designing evidence-based programs that serve over 22 million Americans.

📌 Links & Resources

💡 Connect with Dr. Madhavi Vemireddy:

🚀 Who will be the first employer to take action? Dr. Vemireddy is ready to help—schedule a free call today!
🔗 LinkedIn
🔗 Cleo – Supporting Working Caregivers

📖 Related Articles & Stories:
🔗 January 14th Edition of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter
🔗 Mike George’s Story – Real Working Caregiver
🔗 Learn More About the Caregiver Nation Summit (Dec 3rd, 2024 Newsletter)

🎙️ More from the Podcast:
🔗 Episode 9: Jason Resendez on Caregiver Advocacy & Workplace Culture

🏛 Caregiver Advocacy & Resources:
🔗 National Alliance for Caregiving
🔗 National Alliance for Caregiving’s Caregiver Nation Summit
🔗 West Status – Supporting Women with Cancer
🔗 Connect with West Status Founder Haley Wyrsch
🔗 Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers

If you enjoyed this episode,

In this episode, we sit down with Dahlia Sizer, an HR leader and passionate advocate for caregivers, to unpack how companies can create a more supportive and flexible work environment for employees juggling caregiving responsibilities.

Dahlia shares her personal caregiving journey, the impact it had on her career, and the lessons she’s carried into her HR leadership role. We talk about flexible work policies, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and how leadership can step up to better support caregivers. Plus, Dahlia offers practical advice for both employees and managers on navigating workplace benefits, advocating for change, and ensuring that caregiving doesn’t come at the cost of professional success.

Dahlia Sizer is the former Director of DEI for Saint-Gobain, NA. An accomplished Human Resources Practitioner with expertise in Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Dahlia is adept at navigating complex organizational structures to deliver strategic vision and tailored solutions. Known as a catalyst for change, Dahlia consistently drives impactful results. Integrating deep expertise in global diversity, equity, inclusion, employee engagement, organizational behavior, project management, and recruitment, Dahlia effects substantial and positive transformation. With over a decade of experience in human resources, Dahlia's approach blends strategic vision with a deep understanding of HR policies and team leadership to foster an inclusive culture that not only retains talent but also propels the company forward.

Episode Highlights:

[3:32] - Dahlia’s personal caregiving story—how supporting her mother changed her life.

[9:55] - The power of building a caregiving support system—you can’t do it alone!

[12:41] - What working caregivers experience in the workplace and why workplace culture matters.

[16:53] - Tips for managers on how to support employees who are also caregivers.

[18:48] - How employees can approach their managers to ask for flexibility and support.

[21:03] - The role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in advocating for caregivers.

[23:01] - Why Dahlia sought out education on caregiving for her company and how it made an impact.

[26:07] - The power of awareness—how workplace conversations about caregiving are changing.

Links & Resources:

• Dahlia Sizer Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahlia-sizer-a90130240/
• Rehoboth Beach, Delaware: https://www.rehoboth.com/

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.