Caregiving Information for Workplaces

Caregivers often balance multiple roles and responsibilities. Learn more about how employers can support caregivers in the workplace.

Quick Stats: Caregivers in the workforce

60%  of employed caregivers work full-time [1].

61%  of working caregivers report having experienced a change to their employment situation as a result of caregiving, such as transitioning from full to part-time work, taking a leave of absence or turning down a promotion [1].

Nationally, caregivers make up nearly 30% of the workforce. [2]

42% of Gen Xers and 33% of baby boomers are “sandwich generation” caregivers who care for children and aging parents at the same time. [3]

How employers can support working caregivers

A growing number of employers recognize the significant responsibilities that caregiving places on their workforce, and they are finding creative ways to support their caregiving employees including:

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Category	Example Services
Flexibility and Paid Time Off	Flexible hours/scheduling Work from home Paid leave Sick, vacation or personal days Personal time off banks
Care Delivery Services	Emergency back-up care/respite Onsite or subsidized adult day care Care coordination/health navigation Caregiving digital tools and services Health Savings Account or Dependent Care Flexible Savings
Information, Education and Consultation	Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and/ or Work-Life Program Phone consultations with HR or caregiver specialist Intranet portal Workshops or webinars Onsite or virtual consultation and counseling Legal or financial advice
Caregiver Health and Wellness	Support groups/ networks Stress reduction or self-care programs
Supportive Culture	Visible commitment by leadership and management Ongoing communication and marketing Internal research/ surveys to document need Commitment to continuous improvement

What Massachusetts is doing to encourage age-friendly workplaces

In collaboration with leaders from business, health care and education, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable supported the launch of the Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition, a cohort of employers joining together to elevate the needs of unpaid family caregivers across the Commonwealth.

The November 2019 launch of the Coalition was marked by the release of the Massachusetts State of Care Report and Massachusetts Employer Toolkit to raise awareness of family caregiving as a workforce opportunity and provide employers with resources and ideas for supporting their workforce.

Additional Resources

Massachusetts Employer Toolkit to Support Working Caregivers

Massachusetts State of Care Survey Results

Quick Stats: Caregivers in the workforce is found at:

[1] National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Caregiving in the U.S. (2020).

[2] SHRM. Improving the Lives of Employee Caregivers Makes Business Sense. (2020).

[3] NextAvenue. Caregiving is a Corporate Issue. (2014)