When Care Arrives Home: Informal Caregiving and Workplace Flexibility in Lithuanian SME

This teaching case explores the managerial challenges that arise when an employee becomes an informal caregiver. The case follows Jonė Petrauskienė, a newly appointed Export Director in a Lithuanian manufacturing small and medium enterprise (SME), whose career advancement coincides with the sudden need to care for her ageing father. As Jonė's caregiving responsibilitiesincrease, tensions arise between professional expectations, the company’s international expansion strategy, which requires frequent travel, and her ability to meet these demands. The case emphasises the often-unnoticed role of informal caregivers in the workforce, focusing on the challenges faced by the sandwich generation. It explores how caregiving responsibilities intersectwith workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues, particularly in shaping career opportunities, influencing managerial expectations, and guiding organisational responses to work-caregiving conflicts. Learners are invited to analyse the managerial dilemma faced by the company’s director, evaluate possible organisational responses, and consider the role of HR professionals in supporting employees as they navigate caregiving responsibilities. The case also introduces the institutional context of caregiving support in Lithuania and encourages discussion on ethical leadership. The case relates to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth; and SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities. Teaching notes for this case are available for educators/trainers at ResearchGate.net