Caregiving for family members takes a toll on workers: report

Chicago — One out of 5 workers who take a leave of absence to care for others later take leave for a medical condition of their own, results of a new analysis show.

ComPsych Corp., a provider of mental health and absence management services, conducted a sample analysis of its absence book of business – which covers 6 million workers – from January 2022 to June 2024. Among the workers who took leave less than two years after caring for others, 15% cited mental health as the most common reason, while 11% took leave for a surgery.

In a separate online survey of more than 500 U.S. adults conducted by ComPsych, 23% reported feeling “very equipped” to support a team member who was struggling with their caregiving role. Seventy-seven percent said they were either not prepared or only somewhat prepared to lend support.

ComPsych says organizations that want to provide more robust support of workers who are also caregivers should focus on creating psychological safety and a positive mental health culture.

“From the emotional drain it can cause to the physical demands of competing priorities or helping another person with basic daily functions, caregiving puts people under a tremendous amount of stress,” ComPsych Clinical Director Jennifer Birdsall said in a press release. “It’s vital that we better support and prioritize caregivers, ensuring they’re able to care for themselves both mentally and physically while they also assist their family members.”