March 2025
For ESL, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) serve as a resource for all employees at ESL who wish to participate. ERGs are connectors to the diverse communities that make up ESL and the Greater Rochester area as we continue to pursue our purpose of helping our community thrive and prosper.
Q&A with co-chairs of ESL Caregivers Employee Resource Group Manager of Consumer Lending, Tricia MacAdam, and Home Equity Processor, Anna Michelsen
Why is it important to have an ERG for caregivers in the workplace?
In the U.S. today, one in six employees spends on average, more than 20 hours a week providing care for a loved one. Our vision for the Caregivers ERG is to help alleviate some of the stress for employees by giving them a place to either share their story and/or to hear from others in a similar situation.
We want to offer work/life balance for employees who may not have someone to lean on as they care for others. It can be difficult to manage both professional and personal responsibilities when you’re responsible for the care of a loved one. Having a caregiver’s support group at work can help provide support to people in this journey.
"Our purpose is to lift each other up. We provide educational and anecdotal resources and offer a system of support for caregivers and future caregivers in a comfortable setting with colleagues who understand the pressure and stress caregiving can cause."
What are some of the things that have surprised you?
It shouldn’t have surprised us, but it did: the number of people we work with who are caring for a loved one and who needs a work-based outlet. We know that caring for another person can be very rewarding, but it also comes with numerous challenges. Our purpose is to lift each other up. We provide educational and anecdotal resources and offer a system of support for caregivers and future caregivers in a comfortable setting with colleagues who understand the pressure and stress caregiving can cause.
What are some challenges facing colleagues?
We have individuals who are caring for their spouse, their elderly parents, siblings, and more. Some are working through a cancer diagnosis or MS; others have some form of cognitive decline. All need a shoulder to lean on.
What has been the most rewarding experience for you?
The ability to share my knowledge as a former caregiver to make a coworker’s life a little easier.
"Everyone goes the extra mile to help someone else, even when their own time is limited."
What can employees expect when they become members?
Joining the Caregivers ERG means you will have a safe place to share your story if you choose, hear others’ stories, learn valuable tips and tricks from current and former caregivers, and learn more about balancing caregiving with life’s other necessities.
This group very quickly became close-knit, as you might expect of a group of caregivers. It’s in their nature. Everyone goes the extra mile to help someone else, even when their own time is limited. I also think it’s quite amazing that other ERGs have reached out to partner and collaborate with us.
We know that caring for another person can be very rewarding, but it also comes with numerous challenges. Our purpose is to lift each other up.
Learn more about our people at ESL and career opportunities.
