Yes — the University of Utah's "Family Caregiving, Work, and Employer Leave Policies" study is recruiting family caregivers for a paid 60-minute Zoom interview on work, leave policies, and well-being, according to the University of Utah study listing. Caregiver eligibility means you are age 18 or older and currently provide at least 10 hours per week of care to a family member with chronic illness or disability, according to the same University of Utah study listing.
This is a research interview, not a benefits application. The Utah team wants to learn how work schedules, employer leave, and state rules affect caregiver health and daily life. You do not need to be on leave now to take part.
Official resources:
- Check eligibility on Ca’s official study page — Use this page to check the study’s participation requirements.
- Check eligibility on Utah’s official study page — Use this page to check the study’s participation requirements.
Table of Contents
- Do you meet the caregiver eligibility test?
- What happens in the paid interview?
- Is this the same as paid family leave?
- Why does your state matter so much?
- What trips people up on leave forms?
Do you meet the caregiver eligibility test?
The Utah listing sets four practical screens. Review them before you contact the team.
The care-hours rule is current caregiving, not past care. Part-time work counts. The Utah listing names Megan Hebdon at 801-581-3414 as the contact for screening.
- Age 18 or older
- Now giving at least 10 hours per week of family care to a person with chronic illness or disability
- Now employed full-time or part-time
- Have internet access plus a computer for Zoom
What happens in the paid interview?
You join one 60-minute session by Zoom. Questions focus on caregiving tasks, work demands, employer leave options, and well-being.
Prepare a quiet place and a computer with a stable connection. Have a rough weekly care schedule in mind, plus your current work hours. The goal is lived detail, so short notes about a recent work-care conflict can help you answer fast.
Is this the same as paid family leave?
No. A research interview pays for your time and opinions. A state paid-leave program replaces part of lost wages when you take approved time off to care for a seriously ill family member, bond with a new child, or handle a military exigency, according to the California eligibility guide.
California shows how strict benefit rules can be. Claimants need covered earnings, medical certification for the family member, and a timely claim. Joining the Utah study does not open a benefit claim, protect your job, or prove leave eligibility.
Why does your state matter so much?
The Utah listing notes there are no federal paid family leave laws, so income, job protection, and time off depend on state and employer policies. That means a caregiver in one state may have paid options while a caregiver in another state does not.
Check your own state program before making work plans. Look for who is covered, what family care qualifies, how much pay is replaced, and what forms or medical proof are due. Employer rules add a second layer, so ask human resources about paid leave, sick time, and remote-work options.
What trips people up on leave forms?
User testing in Massachusetts found people often picked the right leave type but still got stuck on medical-leave eligibility and on updating a baby's due date after birth, which led to missed leave and retroactive fixes, according to the Nava Paid Family and Medical Leave case study. The lesson applies to caregivers too.
Read each leave question as written. Save a copy of what you submit. If a diagnosis, care need, or date changes, update the claim right away and keep the confirmation.
