Supporting Caregivers: The Overlooked Employee Group in Your Benefits Plan

In many workplaces across Canada, caregivers put in the work to hold families together while balancing careers. Often part of the “sandwich generation,” these employees are managing full-time jobs while caring for aging parents and raising children—a combination that can quickly lead to exhaustion and burnout.

Yet despite their growing numbers, caregivers remain one of the most overlooked demographics in employee benefit planning. Traditional benefits tend to focus on individual wellness, not the complex realities of supporting others. Tailored benefit planning is one way to navigate this issue.

Progressive employers are rethinking their approach by expanding insurance coverage to include eldercare resources—like caregiver navigation, virtual health tools for managing appointments, and respite care options. At the same time, childcare flexibility has become a cornerstone of modern benefits design. Offering adaptable work schedules, childcare stipends, or partnerships with local care providers gives employees the resources they need to stay engaged and productive.

Flexibility itself is emerging as one of the most meaningful benefits of all. For many caregivers, time—not money—is the most valuable resource. Remote work, hybrid arrangements, or compressed workweeks can transform how employees manage their competing responsibilities.Supporting caregivers isn’t just a compassionate gesture—it’s a strategic investment in retention and wellbeing. When employees feel trusted and supported in caring for their loved ones, they bring greater focus, loyalty, and balance to the workplace.

When you take care of your caregivers, they’re better able to take care of everything else.

Book a consultation with Benefit Strategies to learn more.