India Inc goes the extra mile to share caregivers’ load

Bengaluru: Corporate India is slowly waking up to the needs of caregivers, who now make up a large chunk of the workforce. Companies are rolling out policies — including caregivers’ leave — that provide flexibility and support services for employees juggling personal caregiving responsibilities alongside professional duties.

Experts say these policies address the reality of India’s ‘sandwich generation’, employees simultaneously caring for ageing parents and young children, as well as a wider network of individuals requiring support. Mercer Marsh Benefits’ Health on Demand 2025 research shows that while 54% of employees globally identify as caregivers, this figure is a huge 79% in India, with employees providing five or more hours of care per week for children, spouses/partners, parents, or other family members or friends.

“Recent studies have found this dual responsibility is becoming a growing challenge, with unaddressed caregiver responsibilities directly impacting talent retention,” said Dr Nimitha Menon, senior vice-president-health risk management consulting leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits India, a specialist in employee benefits, health insurance and workplace wellness. Progressive organisations, says Menon, are not just offering leave but actively building a holistic ecosystem by embracing radical flexibility (e.g., flexible hours, remote/hybrid options, compressed workweeks), expanding support services (e.g., efficient employee assistance programmes with caregiver counselling, standalone eldercare programmes offering home healthcare and medical concierge services).

They are also investing in manager sensitisation and training to ensure empathetic and effective implementation of policies. Many of its clients have either implemented or are in the advanced stages of designing these leave policies. Companies say providing caregivingrelated assistance contributes to an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Earlier this month, Diageo India introduced its carers’ leave policy, offering up to five paid days of leave annually for all full-time employees who need to support loved ones. Where caregiving needs are more extensive, managers and employees work together to adapt schedules or explore hybrid arrangements.

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“Caregiving often demands time and emotional energy that cannot always be planned. This policy acknowledges that reality and ensures our people can be fully present for their families, while being able to thrive at work and beyond,” said Shilpa Vaid, chief human resources officer, Diageo India. In addition to family care leave, SAP India provides options for remote and hybrid work arrangements for employees facing serious family care constraints. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source“So far, around 28% of employees are using the family care leave benefit,” said Shweta Mohanty, head of HR, SAP India. “Additionally, we complement this leave policy with sabbatical and unpaid leave options, offering further flexibility for employees managing long-term caregiving responsibilities.” According to Menon, there has been an accelerating adoption of caregiver support, moving from a niche benefit to a mainstream expectation. At Accenture in India, the approach is three-pronged and focuses on holistic and personalised benefits, having support structures at work, and programmes curated to promote self-care.



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