About one in four adults who provide care for a loved one who is older or who has a disability also work at a paying job at some point during their caregiving experience. Balancing caregiving with work can be challenging, but employers can help by supporting working caregivers.

Nearly 70 percent of working caregivers say they had to make work accommodations, such as cutting back on hours or taking a leave of absence, to tend to their loved ones’ needs. Some reported receiving warnings or discipline about performance or attendance issues arising from caregiving. Nationally, employers lose an estimated $33.6 billion annually in lost productivity from full-time working caregivers. Impacts include turnover, absenteeism, workday distractions, supervisory time, reductions in hours from full time to part time.

However, when employers support caregivers in their workforce, they are able to improve retention, increase productivity, reduce stress and improve health among their workers. Caregiver support is also a valuable benefit for attracting and retaining quality employees.

Your area agency on aging can work with you to support your workforce and guide employees to appropriate services and supports that can help them be more successful at home as well as at work.