Ceridian Study Reveals the Challenges of Caregiving & Its Significant Impact on Productivity & Engagement in the Workplace

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwired - September 03, 2015) - Ceridian announces the results of its 2015 Caregiver Research study: Double Duty: The Caregiving Crisis In The Workplace. With more than 22 million Americans serving as working caregivers, the inaugural Ceridian report investigates the role of working caregivers and the personal and professional implications of these responsibilities. Using insight from a survey of more than 1,600 full-time and part-time workers across North America, the demands and effects of caregiving are examined as well as the pressing need for employers to recognize, support and better accommodate these individuals.

For working caregivers in the U.S., consider these facts:

• Nearly one out of six workers are caring for another individual.

• While the majority of people say caregiving is a rewarding part of their life, there is evidence that this responsibility is taking its toll. Study respondents report that the most negative drawbacks of caregiving are the fatigue (63%), stress (66%) and sadness (56%).

• The hours that caregiving demands can also have a negative effect on life outside of caregiving. Study respondents report that they have difficulty getting their work done on time (39%), have had difficulty focusing at work (34%) or have had to miss work entirely (27%). Thirty-eight percent have experienced financial hardship or loss of income and alarmingly 16% report increased use of alcohol or drugs as they struggle to meet caregiving demands.

• Caregiving requires a significant amount of time. U.S. respondents report an average of 28.7 hours spent on caregiving activities in a typical week.

Employers feel the impact of caregiving responsibilities.

• Study respondents report that workers had to take, on average, 9.8 days off over the last 12 months to manage their caregiving responsibilities.

• It is estimated that caregiving costs the U.S. economy $38.2 billion in lost productivity.

Employers could be doing more to support employees with caregiving responsibilities.

• Only 56% of study respondents report that they have the support of their direct manager in their caregiving role.

• Only 20% of study respondents claim that their employer offers all four of the following support programs: paid time off, unpaid time off, the option to work from home and a flexible work schedule.

Today's working caregivers are looking to their employers for support, guidance and assistance.

"Working caregivers are under enormous personal, professional and financial strain," says Christine Adoni, vice president, Ceridian LifeWorks. "Caregiving impacts not only work and productivity, but also the well-being and health of the caregiver. Providing access to an employee assistance program that offers counseling resources, wellness self-assessments and information on resources available within the caregiver's community is just one way that employers can accommodate the needs of their employees and their families -- engaging their employees and ensuring a productive and healthy workforce at the same time."

For more information on Double Duty: The Caregiving Crisis In The Workplace, visit ceridian.com.

About The Study:
The 2015 Caregiver Research study was conducted by Harris/Decima's online research solution in the Spring of 2015.

About Ceridian
Ceridian is a global human capital management technology company serving over 25 million users in more than 50 countries. Our offering includes the award winning, cloud-based Dayforce HCM, Global Solutions, Small Business Payroll, and LifeWorks Employee Assistance and Wellness programs. Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better™ For more information about Ceridian solutions call 1-800-729-7655 or visit www.ceridian.com.

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