The number of employees taking leave, and the cost to employers, is increasing by 20-40% per year in the midst of a care crisis, with demand outpacing the supply of childcare, eldercare, and healthcare.
Grayce’s 2024 Employee Leave Trends report explores the driving factors behind employee leaves of absence, the benefits and downsides, and what alternative solutions are available to reduce or avoid time away from work.
Survey results within the report reveal that flexibility and leave, while necessary benefits offerings, should be just one of the ways organizations support employee caregivers. And that access to resources—like professional help with logistics and planning, as well as community support—can effectively reduce the duration of leaves.
Key takeaways:
- 45% of employee caregivers take several unplanned days off every month. This is despite more flexible work arrangements.
- More than half of caregivers consider quitting during leave. In fact, caregivers are 3.4X more likely to consider quitting during vs. before leave.
- 71% of caregivers say support for their care needs would help avoid or reduce time away from work. Interventions include managing the time-consuming processes of researching, planning, and unraveling problems.
Addressing root causes of family care issues can help reduce leaves—while also achieving business goals, like increased employee retention, improved benefits utilization, and better returns on people investments. Explore Grayce’s 2024 Employee Leave Trends to learn more.