Caregivers don’t need another reminder to “take care of themselves.” They need workplaces that make it possible.
For millions of employees balancing jobs and caregiving, self-care depends on systems, not slogans. Without flexibility, backup support, or time to recover, even the most dedicated employees reach a breaking point. Burnout grows, engagement drops, and culture suffers.
True employee well-being begins when you remove the barriers that make care unsustainable for your people and their performance.
Real Impact, Real Relief
After rolling out Cariloop, American Cancer Society employees saw:
- 63% reduction in stress
- Over a week of work time saved per person
“Having Coaches who can also address mental health, Backup Care, special needs, and family support has been invaluable.” – Director of Health and Welfare Benefits
The business case for supporting working caregivers
Family caregivers make up a large part of today’s workforce. Most employees will care for a child, parent, partner, or friend at some point in their careers. When that responsibility overlaps with work demands, exhaustion builds, and the effects reach every corner of an organization.
As burnout rises, employees lose focus, miss more work, and leave at higher rates. The toll is measurable: productivity drops by one-third on average, healthcare costs rise by $28.3 billion each year, and 75% of employees planning to leave cite care commitments as a key factor.
Organizations that prioritize caregiver well-being see stronger results. Employees with access to support and recovery time think more clearly, stay healthier, and remain longer. In our 2025 Employee Caregiver Top Needs Report, 83% of employees reported that caregiving support through Cariloop helped reduce their stress and improve their well-being, while 79% avoided using PTO for unplanned leaves.
Barriers employees face
Many caregivers want to care for themselves, but the demands of work and family often make it impossible. The challenge isn’t motivation — it’s capacity.
Rigid schedules, constant availability expectations, and limited awareness of support benefits leave employees with little time or energy to recover. Even when help exists, stigma and guilt keep many from using it. Over time, rest becomes a luxury, and burnout feels inevitable.
As an employer, you can change that pattern. Build systems that incorporate time, flexibility, and support into everyday work life, enabling caregivers to sustain both their well-being and performance.
How employers can create space for care
Supporting caregiver well-being calls for policies, resources, and leadership habits that make care possible during the workday.
Here are five ways to start:
1. Make flexibility standard, not special
Offer adaptable schedules, hybrid options, or short-term leave for caregiving needs. When flexibility is built in, employees can manage both work and home without constant stress or guilt.
2. Connect benefits that work together
Combine mental health resources, EAPs, and caregiving benefits so employees can find help without navigating multiple systems. Integrated programs, like personalized coaching and Backup Care, simplify support and improve utilization.
3. Strengthen connections to professional and community support
Link employees to caregiving and community programs that offer respite care for short-term breaks, counseling to help process stress and emotions, or care coordination services for navigating complex needs. Provide spaces where people can share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another, supported by experts who offer thoughtful insight.
4. Make self-care a skill, not an afterthought
Offer workshops, digital tools, or short trainings that teach practical ways to rest, recharge, and manage stress. Encourage employees to build habits that protect their energy, such as taking short breaks, setting boundaries, and utilizing available mental health resources.
5. Set the tone from the top
Encourage leaders to model healthy boundaries and talk openly about care responsibilities. When leaders show that rest and recovery are valued, employees feel permission to do the same.
A culture of care starts here
Every organization depends on people who care: for their work, their teams, and often for loved ones at home. When those employees are supported, everyone benefits. When they’re stretched too thin, the whole system feels it.
Creating a culture of care means building the structures that keep employees steady: time to rest, access to reliable help, and leaders who model balance. Those choices prevent burnout and create the conditions for sustainable performance.
At Cariloop, we help employers make that culture real. Through personalized Coaching, flexible Backup Care, and collaborative planning tools, we help employees navigate the emotional and logistical load of caregiving with confidence. The result is a workforce that’s healthier, more engaged, and more loyal.