Samenvatting

Many organizations are seeing an increase in employees balancing work with informal caregiving. To support them, a workplace participatory approach (PA) intervention was implemented in four Dutch organizations. This study evaluated the implementation, influencing factors, and stakeholder experiences.
A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial, involving caregiving employees, their supervisors, and occupational professionals who facilitated the PA. The evaluation examined recruitment, reach, dosage, fidelity, and contextual factors, using questionnaires, interviews, checklists, and research logs.
Out of 57 caregiving employees in the intervention group, 48 participated, with 20 completing all seven steps and 30 involving their supervisors. Implementation varied due to personal (e.g., need for balance, privacy concerns), interpersonal (e.g., supervisor relationship), and organizational factors (e.g., workload, supportive workplace culture). Overall, stakeholders found the PA valuable in addressing caregiving challenges and work-life balance. However, some employees required more than the standard three meetings to develop effective solutions.
The study concludes that while PA helps improve work-life balance for caregivers, its success depends on fostering a supportive organizational culture. To better support employees long-term, PA should be an ongoing and adaptive process that evolves with their changing needs.