Employers warned of losing talent if they don't offer paid leave
A new US survey has found a major gap in employers' paid leave benefits and growing demand for caregiving leave.
Findings from Prudential's 2025 Benefits and Beyond study revealed that only 52% of employers are offering paid caregiving leave to staff.
This is despite 55% of employees saying they are extremely or very interested in the benefit, according to the report.
In fact, paid time off to take care of a family member emerged as the most valued benefit employees believe their employer can offer.
"Caregiving isn't a niche issue — it's a workplace reality. Employees across every demographic are asking for paid leave, and employers who don't respond risk losing talent," said Michael Estep, president, Prudential Group Insurance, in a statement.
"Embracing paid leave as an essential benefit that supports the well-being of caregivers in the workforce can be a powerful strategy to attract and retain talented workers, while also supporting them in ways that can boost satisfaction, loyalty and performance."
The demand for paid caregiving leave comes as many employees shared that they used paid time off instead of paid leave to take care of someone else, including:
According to the report, employees used up less than or equal to three days of paid time off for the following reasons. A third, however, said they needed at least four days but weren't able to because of:
Mark Devine, head of Life, Absence & Disability Products in Prudential Group Insurance, said clear and supportive communication would help reduce the stigma around taking time off.
"Beyond offering paid leave benefits, employers can foster a broader understanding of how to use the benefit and reduce any stigma around utilising them through consistent, clear, and supportive communications," Devine said in a statement.
