Companies striving to retain top talent are discovering a powerful, often underestimated tool: caregiving support. While the strategic value of these benefits is clear, they’re too frequently overlooked, says Lisa Leighton, VP of strategic development at Cariloop, a platform specializing in caregiver support.

During a thought leadership spotlight at From Day One’s April virtual conference, Leighton addressed that while employees often don’t self-identify as a caregiver, one in three within the workforce operate in a capacity of juggling significant caregiving responsibilities  From coordinating childcare to managing aging parents, balancing workplace performance can become impossible. 

The corporate consequences of ignoring this reality can be severe. According to data presented by Leighton, nearly one-third of parents who take parental leave quit within 18 months of returning, while employees with caregiving responsibilities experience burnout at 2.6 times the rate of their colleagues without such obligations. 

Even generous compensation packages cannot solely drive employee retention in today's market where comprehensive benefits have become increasingly necessary for employee satisfaction. “As costs rise, key retention benefits like caregiving are getting cut. This is putting a tremendous strain on your people and the stability of your workforce,” said Leighton. 

As the childcare crisis has reached critical levels, working parents are struggling to navigate a shrinking supply of providers amid escalating costs of living, says Leighton. “Summer looming can create a pit of dread in my stomach,” said Leighton who previously juggled the demands of finding reliable childcare for her three children while vetting assisted living facilities for a family member. “Working parents are trying to figure out how to navigate two and a half months where everybody’s at home while still doing their jobs productively.” 

The growing number of aging Americans needing care now exceeds the supply of caregivers, adding pressure on workers caring for both kids and parents. Employers who recognize this dual burden see results by partnering with Cariloop to offer comprehensive caregiving support, says Leighton. “Best in class employers are leaning into the types of benefits that create a culture of care and offer that flexible, predictable support, for not just part of your population but your full diverse population at all those different ages and stages of life” she said. 

Cariloop stands out for its focus on measurable outcomes, helping employers track the impact of caregiving benefits through metrics like absenteeism and retention, says Leighton. This data-driven approach supports both employee well-being and organizational stability—an increasingly valuable combination as companies navigate tight labor markets and economic uncertainty.

Editor’s note: From Day One thanks our partner, Cariloop, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight. 

Chris O’Keeffe is a freelance writer with experience across industries. As the founder and creative director of OK Creative: The Language Agency, he has led strategy and storytelling for organizations like MIT, Amazon, and Cirque du Soleil, bringing their stories to life through established and emerging media.

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