Summary
EAPs Are Insufficient for Caregiving Challenges: EAPs provide general mental health support but lack scalability, caregiving-specific tools, and a preventative approach. Businesses need solutions that address practical caregiving needs, such as backup care and digital self-serve platforms.
Digital, Scalable Solutions Deliver Measurable ROI: Tech-enabled platforms like Yurtle’s Back-up Care reduce absenteeism, improve productivity, and enhance retention by supporting caregiving employees effectively. These solutions offer a cost-efficient and sustainable way to address caregiving challenges at scale.
Supporting Caregiving Employees is a Business Imperative: With caregiving demands rising, businesses must adapt to retain talent and maintain efficiency. Scalable caregiving solutions benefit both employees and employers, driving stronger ROI and workforce sustainability.
Being a parent isn’t easy. Nor is caring for an elderly relative or other dependents. Yet almost 1 in 5 employees juggle caregiving duties with their full-time job. Not an easy task and one with both personal and professional strains. Yet as the population aged 65 and over continues to rise, it is a reality nearly all of us will end up facing.
For businesses, the implications of increased caregiving are a material concern. Caregiving responsibilities lead to absenteeism, presenteeism, higher turnover and cost organisations millions annually. While Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer some relief, they are often too limited to meet the specific needs of caregivers. At Yurtle we believe scalable, tech-enabled solutions are essential to build a resilient care team and deliver real ROI.
The Cost of Caregiving for Businesses
Caregiving creates financial and operational challenges that ripple through organisations. Absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover represent the most significant impacts.
Absenteeism and Presenteeism
Caregiving employees often face sudden emergencies, such as arranging care for a dependent or managing medical needs, which can lead to missed work. When carers are present at work, the mental load of caregiving can reduce focus and productivity —known as presenteeism.
Research highlights the scale of the problem. Caregiving-related absenteeism and presenteeism cost UK businesses £464m each year, as workflows are disrupted and teams struggle to adapt to unplanned absences. This challenge extends across industries, making it a pervasive issue that cannot be ignored.
Turnover and Recruitment Costs
Without sufficient support, caregiving employees are more likely to leave their jobs or reduce their hours, contributing to underemployment. High turnover rates result in costly recruitment and training cycles, particularly for skilled roles.
A report by Harvard Business School underscores the opportunity: organisations offering caregiving support see turnover rates reduced by 5–6 percentage points. These figures show the tangible business value of investing in caregiver-specific solutions.
Why EAPs Fall Short
EAPs provide valuable mental health and crisis support, but when it comes to caregiving, their limitations become apparent. There are three critical gaps in traditional EAPs that make them insufficient as a standalone solution.
1. Limited Scope and Scalability
EAPs are primarily designed for short-term counseling and general mental health support. While helpful, they rarely address practical caregiving challenges, such as arranging backup care or managing long-term stress. Relying on human-to-human interactions, whether in-person or via remote access, lacks scalability. This is particularly concerning for large organisations, where traditional EAPs struggle to meet the needs of a growing caregiving workforce.
2. Low Utilisation Rates
Despite being widely available, EAPs remain underutilised. Studies show that only ~5% of employees access EAP services annually, often due to stigma, a lack of awareness, or irrelevant offerings. For caregiving employees, these programs may not feel accessible or aligned with their immediate needs during a crisis.
3. Reactive Rather Than Preventative
EAPs often step in after problems have already escalated, offering reactive support rather than preventing issues in the first place. For caregiving employees, this approach falls short. Prevention-first solutions are essential to making caregiving sustainable, both for employees and their employers.
The Role of Digitalisation in Caregiver Support
To address the challenges faced by caregiving employees, organisations must embrace digitalisation. Self-serve, tech-enabled solutions offer scalability, efficiency, and accessibility in ways traditional EAPs cannot match.
Meeting Modern Workforce Expectations
Today’s workforce, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, increasingly expects digital-first solutions that are simple, flexible, and available on demand. A 2019 survey by BankMyCell found that 75% of Millennials avoid phone calls, preferring apps, text-based support, or online platforms.
Digital platforms align with these preferences, allowing caregiving employees to access resources and support at their convenience. For carers managing busy schedules, this flexibility can make all the difference.
Scalable and Sustainable
Unlike human-to-human interactions, which are resource-intensive and limited in capacity, digital platforms provide consistent, scalable support to large employee populations. Self-service, tech-enabled solutions ensure carers receive the support they need without overwhelming resources.
How Yurtle’s Back-up Care Bridges the Gap
Yurtle’s Back-up Care offers a scalable, tech-enabled solution that complements traditional EAPs, addressing caregiving challenges proactively and sustainably.
Key Features of Yurtle’s Back-up Care
Immediate Access to Care: Employees can quickly arrange backup care for children, elders, or dependents during emergencies, ensuring a continuity of care promise.
Self-Serve Platform: Designed for modern employees, Yurtle’s digital platform enables carers to access resources and services on their own terms.
Proactive Support: Yurtle prioritises prevention, helping to reduce stress and burnout before they impact productivity.
Proven Outcomes
Businesses that integrate Yurtle’s Back-up Care see reduced absenteeism, improved retention, and higher employee engagement. By bridging the gaps left by traditional EAPs, Yurtle helps employees build a truly resilient care team.
Conclusion
As the demands of caregiving grow, businesses cannot afford to rely solely on traditional EAPs. While these programs provide a valuable foundation, they lack the scalability, accessibility, and specificity needed to support a caregiving workforce. By embracing digital, scalable solutions like Yurtle’s Back-up Care, organisations can reduce costs, enhance retention, and foster a workplace that values and empowers its employees.
Supporting carers isn’t just good for employees—it’s essential for long-term business success. With Yurtle’s innovative solutions, companies can lead the way in creating sustainable, caregiver-friendly workplaces.
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