Why employees keep caregiving private—and how it affects the workplace

Summary

Caregiving responsibilities often fly under the radar at work. They can show up as a missed meeting, a declined travel opportunity, or an employee who seems less willing to take on one more thing. But behind those moments could be the invisible work of arranging child care or helping an aging parent navigate a growing list of needs—or both!

But many employees don’t explain the context to their employer (and it’s not their fault).

Why employees don’t discuss caregiving at work

Employees often keep these types of responsibilities private because they worry that asking for flexibility, raising a scheduling concern, or seeking help will change how their manager views their commitment or potential.

Care.com’s 2026 Sandwich Generation Report found that 66% of respondents have hidden the full extent of their care responsibilities from employers. Another 56% worry that their employer sees them as less committed. As this Forbes article covering the report put it, “the concealment is rational, which makes it a policy failure rather than a personal one.”

Providing support doesn’t require employees to share more about their personal lives. It starts with creating enough psychological safety at work for employees to raise a caregiving need or ask for support without worrying about how it could affect their careers.