Carers at Work: The Invisible Pressure Behind the Paycheque

You won’t always know who they are. But they’re there, logging in for the 9am call, submitting work before deadline, and appearing present in every sense of the word. 

They’re also checking care rotas. Managing medications. Sitting in waiting rooms with ageing parents. 

They are the 1 in 7 employees in the UK quietly juggling unpaid care with a full-time job and it’s pushing many to breaking point. 

In boardrooms and on HR dashboards, the picture can look fine. But under the surface, many of your most committed team members are holding an invisible burden. 

It’s time we acknowledged that unpaid care is a workplace issue. 

Why Unpaid Carers Are Slipping Through the Gaps 

Most unpaid carers won’t disclose their situation to their employer. The reasons vary: stigma, job insecurity, lack of understanding, or simply not identifying as a “carer” at all. 

But the impact is tangible. Carers are more likely to experience anxiety, burnout, sleep disruption, and physical exhaustion. They’re also more likely to reduce their hours, take sick leave, or exit the workforce entirely. 

It’s a slow drip of lost talent. One that’s entirely preventable. 

What Structured Support Looks Like 

Sacana is designed to work in the background, just like many of your employees’ caring responsibilities. Our service offers structured, stigma-free connection for the people being cared for and for the carers themselves. 

That means: 

An elderly parent has someone to talk to regularly, helping reduce loneliness and emotional decline; The carer knows someone is there when they can’t be; HR teams see reduced stress leave, improved retention, and increased engagement. 

It’s not therapy. It’s not another employee app. It’s consistent human support, one conversation at a time. 

Caring for the People Who Care 

Caring doesn't stop when the workday starts. So neither should workplace support. 

Sacana helps retain skilled staff who might otherwise burn out. It helps reduce the risk of absence, presenteeism and disengagement. And it shows, in practical terms, that your organisation values not just performance, but people. 

Supporting carers isn’t a perk. It’s a strategy. 

Discover how Sacana can strengthen your workforce from within at enquiries@sacana.com

References 
Carers UK (2023). Juggling Work and Unpaid Care: The Carer’s Leave Report. 
Carers UK (2022). State of Caring. 
Office for National Statistics (2021). Unpaid Carers in the Workforce. 
Deloitte (2022). Mental Health and Employers: The Case for Investment. 
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) (2023). Supporting Working Carers.