# In a pickle: UK’s estimated 6 million ‘sandwich generation’ workers need better employer support
Published: 2022-04-20
Category: Opinion
Category URL: https://entrepreneurtribune.com/category/opinion/
Meta Title: How the Sandwich Generation Impacts Mental &
Meta Description: Discover how over 6 million UK workers juggle caring for children and elderly relatives, impacting mental and financial health. Employers urged to provide...
URL: https://entrepreneurtribune.com/in-a-pickle-uks-estimated-6-million-sandwich-generation-workers-need-better-employer-support/

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- **21% of UK workers consider themselves part of the ‘sandwich generation’ (caring for both young children and elderly parents/relatives)**
- **An estimated 6 million people have dual caring responsibilities when extrapolated to the UK workforce** **\[1** **\]**
- **Among the sandwich generation, more than 1 in 3 people felt a toll on their mental health, while 29% found it a financial strain**
- **21% in the sandwich [generation](https://entrepreneurtribune.com/mtu-and-safran-to-create-jv-on-military-helicopter-developments/) say their employer does not offer support to balance work and home responsibilities**

**London, Tuesday 12 April:** According to a new Opinium poll commissioned by leading UK employee benefits provider Unum, it is estimated that more than 6 million people in the UK workforce — over 1 in 5 workers — are juggling dual caring [responsibilities](https://entrepreneurtribune.com/what-is-term-life-insurance-and-how-does-it-work/) for children and elderly relatives.\[2\]

The strain of caring and working is evident on the nation’s overall health and wellbeing, with 35% of sandwich generation workers saying it’s impacted their mental health; 29% saying it’s impacted their financial health; and 25% feeling an impact to their physical health.

The stress is no surprise, and it’s evident something has to give. According to the research, 20% say they are less productive at work and 13% have left an unsupportive employer.

Meanwhile, almost a quarter (24%) of sandwich generation workers have needed time off work to manage their caring responsibilities, with a further 16% saying it pushed them into taking time off sick. Combined, this means 2 in 5 sandwich generation workers have been forced to take time away from their jobs to cope with the realities of their dual caring responsibilities.

Although the majority of sandwich [generation](https://entrepreneurtribune.com/mtu-and-safran-to-create-jv-on-military-helicopter-developments/) workers say their employer understands their needs, 31% said their employer has a poor understanding of their responsibilities.

Despite 38% saying their employer offered flexible hours; fewer than a third of employees received help from their employer in the form of remote working, emergency leave to care for ill dependents or an employee assistance programme (EAP).

Unfortunately, 1 in 5 (21%) said their employer did not offer support to help balance their work and home responsibilities. In addition to flexible work arrangements, employees wanted to see their employers:

- Create a specific support programme, including signposting to external care (35%)
- Improve/provide resources for life and wellbeing support (31%)
- Provide onsite childcare resources or financial support for childcare (31%)
- Improve/give access to mental health assistance (26%)

**Mark Till, CEO at Unum UK, commented:**

_“It’s clear from our data that there is work for employers to do to support the huge number of UK workers with dual caring [responsibilities.](https://entrepreneurtribune.com/what-is-term-life-insurance-and-how-does-it-work/) A comprehensive benefits package can provide a wide array of support services for employees having to manage caregiving responsibilities and work — especially around mental, financial and physical health concerns that sandwich generation workers raise as a particular issue. The bottom line is employers must consider how to be understanding whilst providing effective support services to avoid losing staff who feel under-supported.”_

[\[1\]](about:blank) ONS Labour Market Overview, March 2022  [https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/march2022](https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/march2022)

[\[2\]](about:blank) Research conducted by Opinium between 4-8 March 2022 amongst a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults.


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