Michael Walsh’s caregiving journey began at 23, juggling a demanding job while helping care for his grandfather and siblings. That experience led to founding Cariloop—a platform that pairs employees with care coaches to navigate the challenges of supporting a loved one while working. Now serving nearly 2 million families, the mission is deeply rooted in lived experience. Caregiving Is More Common—and Costlier—Than Employers Realize

• 3 out of 4 employees are active or soon-to-be caregivers, yet many don’t self-identify until they’re overwhelmed.
• Caregiving leads to financial strain—depleting savings, PTO, and even career opportunities.
• Without support, caregiving pulls employees out of work or off their career paths, affecting retention and performance.

Unseen Work Becomes a Second Full-Time Job

• Employees often juggle complex logistics, medical coordination, and emotional strain—all on top of their actual job.
• These demands increase short- and long-term disability claims, absenteeism, and burnout.
• Support programs reduce this burden and lead to earlier returns to work, improved morale, and quantifiable ROI.

Culture Change Starts with Brave Stories and Small Moves

• Public storytelling at town halls or ERGs reduces stigma and gives others permission to seek help.
• HR leaders who’ve experienced caregiving firsthand often lead the charge in normalizing support.
• Even adding a simple “Do you have caregiving responsibilities?” question in a survey sparks visibility and change.

Simple Actions Today Drive Long-Term Results

• Audit leave policies to make sure surprise caregiving events don’t trigger fear or penalties.
• Use National Family Caregiving Month in November as a launchpad for awareness and resources.
• Encourage cross-team storytelling and partner with existing resources like EAPs or caregiving vendors to expand impact.

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