What we covered in our chat
This conversation with Melissa Reader highlighted a major blind spot in many workplace wellbeing strategies: caregiving and grief. Melissa shared her experience of losing her husband and managing the immense emotional and administrative burden that followed, something she calls “sadministration”. It immediately became clear how many employees are navigating similar challenges quietly while continuing to show up at work.
The rise of the sandwhich generation
We explored the growing “sandwich generation” — people in their 40s, 50s and 60s caring for children, ageing parents and their own wellbeing at the same time. This unpaid workload often equates to a second job and has a significant impact on mental health, energy and performance. Melissa highlighted that most carers feel unprepared and unsupported, and that this pressure disproportionately affects women.
Why workplaces must respond earlier
Melissa challenged organisations to view eldercare as a legitimate life stage, just like parenting or returning to work after illness. While EAPs are important, they are often too general for the complexities of caregiving. Tools like the Care Compass help families plan earlier, reducing crisis‑driven stress and creating longer‑term resilience for employees and their workplaces.
Final thoughts
My biggest takeaway is that caregiving is already occurring across our workplaces. Acknowledging it early, normalising conversations and offering practical support is critical for retention, trust and long‑term wellbeing.
Written by Tom Bosna
April 2026