Providing care of sick or elderly loved ones is one responsibility that still generally falls disproportionately to women. It can have significant impacts on their health, productivity, and career outcomes. As an employer there is a lot you can do to support the health and wellbeing of employees who are caregivers.

Who are the Caregivers?

Caregivers in the workplace include all ages, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are overrepresented when it comes to caregiving. In partnership with C.A.R.P (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) Sun Life conducted a survey of caregivers in June 2021. It revealed women were more likely to be caregivers and to have complex caregiving responsibilities.¹

What’s the impact?

Caregiving can be very rewarding on a personal level. However, it can also be very challenging for caregivers to take care of their own physical and mental health. The impact of caregiving on work is greater among women: 28% of women caregivers reported that they had given up employment or were considering it due to their caregiving responsibilities.²

What are the solutions you can provide to your employees?

The survey found that many caregivers feel overwhelmed and unable to adequately care for their own health. Their group benefits plan and other supports you make available to them through the workplace can help them stay healthy and balance their roles as caregiver and employee.  

Here are actions you can take:

• Read our Supporting the Supporters Bright Paper to better understand the challenges employee caregivers face. Learn more about the ways you can support them
• Give your employees access to the Lumino Health Caregiver Guide by clicking here – it’s a free, easy-to-use guide designed to help caregivers navigate their role
• If you haven’t done it yet, consider adding virtual care services to your group benefits plan. 8/10 caregivers surveyed said it would be valuable/highly valuable to support their physical and mental health³
• Remind your employees of the supports already available to them through their group benefits plan, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and coverage for psychological services. Many may not know what is already available to them.

Questions? We’re here to help.

If you have fewer than 50 employees, please contact the Client Relations Representative Team at 1-866-606-8936.

If you have more than 50 employees, please contact your Sun Life Group Benefits representative.

¹Supporting the supporters: Unpaid caregivers in Canada, Sun Life, 2021

²Supporting the supporters: Unpaid caregivers in Canada, Sun Life, 2021

³Supporting the supporters: Unpaid caregivers in Canada, Sun Life, 2021