A practical look at caring responsibilities, intermittent absence, and early intervention in the workplace.

In this episode of The Care Break, Rosemary speaks with HR and workplace resolution specialist Louisa Meehan about the realities of family caring and work, and the threads that often go unnoticed in workplace conversations.

Louisa unpacks the difference between caring responsibilities and being a family carer, explaining how this gap in understanding shapes everything from communication to absenteeism. She also explores why intermittent absence is one of the biggest operational challenges for employers, and how hidden caring can quietly affect performance, wellbeing, and workplace culture.

Together, they talk about the emotional load carers carry, the risk of late disclosure, and the reality of capacity and career progression during intense caring periods. The conversation is honest, practical and grounded in what HR leaders, managers and working carers experience every day.

In this episode, we explore:
- The distinction between “caring responsibilities” and being a family carer

- Why intermittent absence is often the real operational challenge

- The risks when caring stays hidden until performance conversations begin
- What support is realistic for employers to offer and what isn’t
- The emotional weight of caring and the need for early, honest communication
- Why early intervention protects both employees and organisations
- How capacity, progression, and wellbeing intersect during caring periods

This episode unpicks a complex issue thread by thread, from workplace wellbeing and employee support to HR leadership, communication and the expectations placed on working carers.

Take a short break with us as we look at what really happens when caring and work overlap.

Social links:

The Care Advocate website: www.thecareadvocate.ie

Follow the Care Advocate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-care-advocate

Follow Rosemary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-daynes-kearney

Guest Details:

Follow Louisa:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisameehan

Woodview HRM

http://www.woodviewhrm.com/

In this first episode of The Care Break, Dr. Rosemary Daynes Kearney speaks with Mary Seery Kearney, barrister, former senator, and Managing Director of Purple Tree HR, about why caring must become a workplace conversation.

Together, they explore the reality of family caring in the workplace, the impact of hidden caring, and why so many working carers remain unseen.

Mary shares insights from years advising employers on HR, employment law, and workplace culture, as well as her personal experience of caring within her own family.

This episode shines a light on how not supporting caring responsibilities affect businesses, employees performance and wellbeing, turnover and retention, and why inclusive and supportive workplace cultures are essential for the future of work.

This episode reveals why caring is a workplace conversation we all need to have.

Topics include:

• Hidden caring in the workplace and why it goes unnoticed

• The emotional impact when employees feel unsupported
• Why caring is a root cause of turnover
• How policies create trust and future-proof organisations
• Rights and entitlements every employee and employer should know
• The strengths carers bring to their roles
• What Gen Z expects from workplace culture

Whether you’re an employer, HR leader, working carer, or someone interested in creating healthier workplaces, this conversation offers practical insights, real experience, and a powerful reframing of caring as a workplace issue.

Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and join us for a short, meaningful Care Break.

Social links:

The Care Advocate website: www.thecareadvocate.ie

Follow the Care Advocate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-care-advocate

Follow Rosemary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-daynes-kearney

Guest Details:

Follow Mary:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-seery-kearney

PurpleTreeHR:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purpletreehr