The time that I spent with my dad, taking Monday and Friday mornings off work to be able to be there for him, helping him get dressed or helping him shave, are memories that I will treasure. I’m grateful that my employer was open to making adjustments to my schedule and accommodating me so I was able to have those moments and that time with him.

During that time in my life, I was working full-time at the Canadian Cancer Society and was also a part-time student. It was very difficult to manage working, schooling, as well as providing care. I was able to openly discuss my situation with my manager because I was fortunate to work for an organization that is very supportive and understanding. It is critical for a work environment to have a level of openness where you can talk about the personal challenges you are facing while trusting that your managers won’t hold it against you. It also helped that I was given the opportunity to work from home, giving me the flexibility to be able to provide good care for my father while also meeting work priorities. This meant I never had to choose between work and family. That is why it is such a good investment to value your employees—in my experience, employers are rewarded with loyalty and commitment.

Caring for my dad was one of the hardest experiences I have gone through. But it was less challenging as a result of how accommodating my workplace was to my needs. I was able to come out of this experience knowing that I provided my dad with good care and not wishing that I had been able to do more.