Grayce, a comprehensive social care platform for families, has released its 2024 Employee Leave Trends report, with new research revealing why, despite more flexible work arrangements, the number of employees taking time off for caregiving continues to rise.
A staggering 73% of employees are balancing caregiving responsibilities with full-time jobs. As life expectancy increases and young adults grapple with financial independence, nearly one in four U.S. adults are now part of the “sandwich generation,” providing support for both children and parents over longer periods of time. Grayce’s latest study highlights that these responsibilities often require employees to take time away from work.
Nearly half (45%) of employees report taking several days off from work per month for caregiving. Almost as many (40%) indicate that they need several days out of the month, even if they’re unable to take that amount of time away. This data highlights the struggle employees face in juggling their dual roles. Caregiving often necessitates unplanned time away from work, leading employees to take ad hoc days off rather than an official leave of absence. Despite more flexible work arrangements, employees continue to express the need for extended leave.
“Our new research highlights that the reasons employees take time off for caregiving, and whom they are caring for, are more nuanced than previously understood,” says Julia Cohen Sebastien, co-founder and CEO of Grayce. “The spectrum of care responsibilities is diverse, from caring for loved ones to assisting with recovery from surgery, helping to organize and plan for care needs, or supporting mental health recovery. Employers need to expand their support beyond traditional parental leave policies to encompass broader needs of employees navigating care challenges.”
Key findings from the report include the following.
- More than half of caregivers consider quitting during their leave and are more than three times as likely to consider quitting during their time away versus before their leave.
- Caregivers take leave for two primary reasons: needing time and needing help. Nearly half (49%) have taken time away to care for a loved one, while many also needed time to get organized or plan.
- Further, 71% of caregivers say that support for their care needs would have helped avoid or reduce time away from work. Support interventions include addressing the cost of care, facilitating logistics, providing community support, and managing the processes of researching, planning, and problem-solving. This is true across all population segments and workforce industries.
- Some inequities were also revealed, with women 58% more likely than men to take time off for stress or mental health, likely due to carrying more of the mental load in organizing and planning.
Grayce’s new research sheds light on the critical challenges faced by working caregivers and the significant impact on their professional lives. By understanding these challenges and implementing supportive measures, employers can play a pivotal role in reducing stress and improving retention among employees with caregiving responsibilities. This study emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive support systems for caregivers in the workplace.
