Caught Between Care and Career

​When discussing the generations in today’s workplace—Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z—there is one group that often gets overlooked: the Sandwich Generation. The sandwich generation refers to middle-aged adults, typically in their 40s and 50s, who are “sandwiched” between caring for their aging parents while also supporting their own children, whether those children are young or even well into adulthood.

​This group has long been a forgotten generation—but not for much longer. Estimates suggest the sandwich generation will grow from 58 million people in 2022 to 82 million by 2050.

So why is this generation growing so rapidly?

• We’re living longer, which means aging parents often require care for extended periods of time.
• People are waiting longer to have children, creating an overlap between childcare responsibilities and elder care.

The result is a generation balancing work, caregiving, financial pressure, and emotional strain, at the same time. While the demands are significant, it is possible to find balance.

• Prioritize self-care
  • You can’t pour from an empty cup, so it’s important to take care of yourself
• Delegate where you can
  • It can feel as if no one else can do it the way you can or would, but it’s important to delegate so you don’t burn out
• Embrace structure and routine (where you can)
  • It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when everything is coming at you, so try and establish routines
• Communicate openly
  • Discuss challenges, concerns, and expectations to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts