Employer research conducted by group risk industry body GRiD shows that caring issues are becoming a major cause of workforce absence.

Home and family issues (which are often related to caring issues or the breakdown of care arrangements), plus more specific issues with providing elder and child care are resulting in absence from work and lost productivity.

• For 61% of employers these issues are a main cause of short-term absence (less than 4 weeks)
• For 49% of employers these issues are a main cause of mid-term absence (4 weeks to 6 months)
• For 43% of employers these issues are a main cause of long-term absence (in excess of 6 months)

They can also be a contributory factor in the development of mental illness or the deterioration of mental health.  Indeed, mental ill-health is another major cause of absence.

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