Caregiving impacts employees’ mental health and wellness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a good time to pause and think about employees who also serve as caregivers, a role that deeply impacts their mental wellness —and their performance at work.

More than 20 percent of U.S. adults serve as an unpaid caregiver for another person,¹ and that number will continue to grow as the nation’s Baby Boomers age. By 2030, all Boomers will be 65 or older and their family members are increasingly providing care for them, as well as care for family members living with illnesses or disabilities.

Employees expect employer assistance

While many resources are available to help caregivers and their loved ones, increasingly, employees expect their employers to also help. Through Securian Financials’ proprietary survey of more than 2,500 employees from various organization², we learned that:

• 78% of employees expect employers to provide benefits to support them as caregivers
• 37% look to their employer as a resource to find support for their role as a caregiver

Wellness is important to job satisfaction and performance

Providing support to employees pays off. Employees who strongly agree that their employer cares about their overall well-being, compared to other employees, are: ²

• 69% cent less likely to search for a new job
• 71% less likely to experience burnout
• 36% more likely to be thriving in their overall lives
• 3 times more likely to be engaged at work

Solutions and support to offer

Here are ways to support employees:

1. Design benefits and create resource groups for caregivers
   Having benefits that help employees with caregiving responsibilities can help attract and retain employees. These may include paid caregiver leave, flexible work arrangements, remote work, and financial wellness benefits.  Also establish employee resources groups so caregivers can connect, feel seen and find mutual support. 
2. Expand benefits education
3. Make sure employees are aware of available benefits.
   Provide in-depth knowledge on how benefit features might help, such as mental wellness or dependent care features attached to critical illness or hospital identity insurance. Also make sure your intranet includes content specific to caregiving needs and benefits.

Create a culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their needs and seeking support. Listen and acknowledge their challenges, model and support work-life balance, and encourage self-care.

Reap the rewards

Employers who support their employees will reap the rewards.  An August 2023 study in the Harvard Business Review found that employees who feel their well-being is supported are:

• 2.6 times more likely to report high levels of job performance
• 1.7 times more likely to recommend their employer to others

More information

Securian Financial understands the importance of supporting employees. Take a look at our research for more information on how to support caregivers and mental health needs in the workplace.