This post is part of a series of highlights from Cleo’s Family Health Index Annual Report.

Parents and caregivers’ mental health is at a critical level

Higher-risk caregivers report an average of 454 hours (~11.4 weeks) of lost work productivity annually per member

For an employee earning $90,000 annually, this translates to $27,240 in hidden costs. For every 1,000 employees, this amounts to an estimated 139 higher-risk caregivers and a projected hidden annual cost of $3.8 million in lost productivity.

This aligns with broader research showing that caregiving-related presenteeism often has a greater impact on productivity than absenteeism. While caregivers often strive to remain present and contribute at work, their ability to perform is significantly impaired by caregiving stress and demands.

With the right interventions, parents and caregivers improve their health

The good news is that following Cleo’s intervention, Cleo members improve their health, and therefore their productivity.

Greater improvements in overall Family Health Index scores correlate with higher productivity gains. When a member improves their Family Health Index score by 13 to 19 points, they also report an average of 170 hours (4.25 weeks) in productivity gain.

Notably, a 4-point increase in overall Family Health Index score marks the threshold where meaningful productivity improvements begin. This reinforces the strong link between well-being and employee performance, highlighting the importance of addressing multiple dimensions of health to drive meaningful and lasting impact.

Parents and caregivers need specialized, proactive support

By pairing these Family Health Index insights with our proactive care model, Cleo can get to the root of mental health issues and help alleviate the healthcare and workforce productivity impact. 37% of higher-risk members who improve their Family Health Index score after Cleo’s intervention also report a gain of at least 100 additional productive working hours annually.

88% of this productivity gain comes from improvement in presenteeism, as working caregivers report significantly enhanced focus and concentration at work after receiving Cleos targeted support and interventions.