[Article] The New Ideal Workplace: How Flexibility Benefits Caregivers - and Everyone Else

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One in four Canadians, excluding parents, identifies as a caregiver – a figure that is projected to rise to 50% of Canadians in the future. Additionally, 58% of Canadian families include children (2021 Census). With an aging population, employees with unpaid care responsibilities are a growing cohort of the Canadian workforce, “poised to become a dominant issue for employers.” We also know that unpaid care is provided disproportionately by women, whether for children, people with disabilities or the elderly. A pre-pandemic 2018 Stats Canada survey reported: “Women account for almost two-thirds of caregivers providing 20 or more hours of [informal, unpaid] care per week.” This results in them more likely to turn down opportunities, promotions or restrict their working hours.