Summary:
Caregiving is a major workforce trend: UK employers must address the growing challenge of employees balancing work with caregiving to maintain productivity and well-being.
Top employees benefits directly relate to carers support: Flexible work, mental health support, financial well-being initiatives, and preventative care directly relate to the challenges carers face
Paid Carers Gaining Support, But Pose Challenges: Proposed paid carers’ leave could help employees carers however organisations face cost challenges. This highlighting the need for scalable solutions.
Introduction
The workplace is changing. Caregiving responsibilities are becoming a top concern for many UK employers. According to REBA’s Benefits Trends for 2025 Research, 71% of employers identify caregiving as a significant workforce trend. Employees are increasingly juggling work with childcare, eldercare, or both. This reality is reshaping how organisations approach workplace benefits.
To keep up, employers are focusing on flexibility, mental health, and financial well-being. These priorities are designed to create a supportive workplace culture that values employees and improves productivity.
Caregiving: A Workforce Trend That Can’t Be Ignored
The UK’s workforce is aging, and many employees are stepping into caregiving roles. These responsibilities include looking after children, elderly parents, or even both.
As a result, 53% of employers are prioritising flexible workdays, and 52% are focusing on flexible working hours to help employees manage these demands.
While flexibility is essential, it’s often not enough. Emergencies like sudden illnesses or childcare closures can quickly disrupt even the best-prepared plans. These disruptions cause stress and can lead to absenteeism.
Top 5 benefits for employers directly relate to carers
Increasingly, employers are seeing the importance of supporting caregivers. Mental health, financial well-being, behavioural support, and preventative care are all closely connected to the challenges faced by carers.
Recent research suggests 20% of employers rank benefits for working carers as very important, with 51% calling them fairly important. These benefits align closely with other top workplace priorities:
Mental Health Support: 51% very important; 41% fairly important.
Preventative Well-Being: 41% very important; 46% fairly important.
Behavioural/skills change in the workplace (e.g. recognition plans) 29% very important; 43% fairly important
Financial Stress Support: 27% very important; 52% fairly important.
Caregiving responsibilities often contribute to mental health challenges and financial stress. Aegon reports that presenteeism costs UK businesses £6.6 billion every year, even more than the £3.7 billion lost to absenteeism. Many of these productivity issues stem from employees trying to balance work with caregiving demands.
Employers who combine caregiving benefits with mental health and financial support can make a big difference. This approach not only helps employees feel supported but also reduces absenteeism and presenteeism. Which results in a happier, healthier workforce and stronger business outcomes!
Policy Changes: Paid Carers’ Leave
Proposed legislative changes, including discussions around working carer’s leave becoming paid time-off, are gaining attention as a way to support employees with caregiving responsibilities. Carers UK notes that 56% of working carers are unable to afford unpaid carers' leave. Additionally, 78% of carers believe that access to paid leave would help them better balance work and caregiving
However, implementing such policies can pose challenges, particularly for smaller organisations with limited resources. To address these challenges, businesses need practical and scalable solutions that balance compliance with employee support. Offering flexible benefits and resources for working carers can help bridge the gap between policy demands and workforce needs.
Meeting the Needs of All Employees
Employers are also balancing the needs of different generations in the workforce. Younger employees often value flexibility, while older workers may require eldercare support.
REBA’s research shows that 36% of employers see it as very important to design benefits to attract younger employees, while 33% align their benefits to support longer working lives.
By addressing prospective employee’s needs, businesses can create a resilient workforce. This ensures employees feel valued and supported, no matter their stage of life or career.
Yurtle’s Solutions Directly Addresses Caregiving Trends From REBA
Yurtle provides solutions that help employers support their caregiving employees effectively. These tools are designed to reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, and financial stress while improving overall workplace satisfaction.
Key Solutions
Back-up Care: Offers immediate caregiving support during emergencies, helping employees stay productive.
Caregiver Insurance: Provides financial relief during caregiving emergencies, ensuring continuity of care and reducing financial stress.
Support Team for Carers: Personalised guidance to help employees manage their caregiving responsibilities.
Educational Resources: Actionable advice for carers, empowering them to balance work and home life.
By integrating these solutions, businesses can create a supportive workplace culture that values carers and fosters loyalty.
Conclusion
Caregiving, mental health, and financial well-being are critical challenges for modern workplaces. With 71% of employers identifying caregiving as a key trend, action is necessary to adapt to these changes.
Yurtle’s scalable solutions provide backup care, insurance and more all to help manage these challenges whilst creating a supportive and productive work environment. By investing in caregiving benefits, businesses can reduce absenteeism, improve engagement, and build a workforce that thrives.
Let’s create workplaces where caregiving and careers can thrive together.
Sources: REBA's Benefits Trends for 2025 Research (research surveyed 296 employers representing 1.4m employees. 166 of those respondents have more than 1000 employees), Carers UK, Aegon.
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