How Harry & David Champions Their Working Caregivers

episode

Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees

Global Caregiver Advocates Bonus Series: Spotlight On India with Bhavana Issar 53 min · 11 Aug 2026

Exclusive Podcast Interview With Angela F. Williams: A Conversation on Caregiving 46 min · 28 Jul 2026

Caregiving Doesn’t Show Up on a Claim Line with Geri Stengel 24 min · 22 Jun 2026

The Hidden Cost of Putting Yourself Last as a Caregiver 29 min · 03 Jun 2026

All episodes from Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded06 May 2025

Publisherfeeds.buzzsprout.com

Handlerec:11013072

Show notes

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Rhonda Klug from Harry & David to talk about the often invisible and deeply personal journey of working caregivers. From supporting her parents through dialysis and COPD to leading real cultural change within her organization, Rhonda shares her firsthand experience that sparked a company-wide movement of support and empathy. She takes us behind the scenes of how Harry & David and the broader 1-800-Flowers family are creating a more compassionate workplace for employees who are balancing caregiving responsibilities with their careers.We explore how Rhonda transformed her lived experience into a catalyst for creating CARE (Caregivers and Allies Responding with Empathy), an Employee Resource Group (ERG) that is reshaping how caregiving is understood and supported in the workplace. If you're an employer wondering how to retain and uplift your caregiving employees—or you're a caregiver looking for inspiration on how to advocate for yourself—this is the episode for you. Episode Highlights:[2:12] – Meet Rhonda Klug of Harry & David: Her background and caregiving connection.[3:23] – Rhonda shares her emotional journey as a caregiver for both her parents.[7:12] – How personal caregiving shaped her awareness of employee needs.[9:24] – The pivotal moment at the Care Colloquium that sparked a corporate movement.[12:50] – Why storytelling from leadership is essential in changing culture.[15:48] – Turning insight into action: Creating a caregiver-focused ERG.[18:50] – Innovative benefits like Talkspace and Torchlight to support employees.[20:23] – Practical tips for managers and employees to foster communication.[24:29] – Encouraging employees to self-identify and seek support.[26:30] – Real-life impact: Preventing turnover and boosting retention through flexibility.[28:50] – The ripple effect: How leadership empathy transforms company culture. Links & Resources:Talkspace – Mental health support platform used by Harry & David employeesTorchlight – Caregiving resource platform Rhonda mentionsCelebrations Chatter Podcast by Jim McCann and interview with usCelebrations Pulse Newsletter by Jim McCannCare Colloquium – The conference that sparked Rhonda’s caregiving leadership journey and Facebook GroupDebbie Howard – Aging Matters International – Caregiving strategy consultantHarry & David: https://www.harryanddavid.com/ Crater Lake: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm Benefits Alliance Connect Conference 2024: https://benefitsalliance.ca/event/connect-conference-2024 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.