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Download Cleo’s 2026 Family Health Index Annual Report for the most up-to-date picture of caregiving and family health burden driving healthcare and workforce costs today.
March 18, 2026
The most recent data from the Family Health Index™ reveals a stark risk that occurs for women during their most productive years in the workforce. While caregiving demands exist at every age, women between 40 and 54 are experiencing high-risk burnout at rates that far outpace both their younger and older colleagues.
The midlife risk peak
The data shows that burnout risk does not follow a linear path; instead, it reaches a significant crescendo for women in their 40s and early 50s. This demographic often holds the most institutional knowledge and leadership responsibility, yet they are the most likely to be screening at a critical risk level.
When comparing women across three distinct life stages, the disparity is clear:
- Ages 25–40 (reproductive & family formation): 27% high risk
- Ages 40–54 (perimenopause): 46% high risk
- Ages 55+ (post menopause): 32% high risk
For HR and CFO leaders, this 46% statistic signals a precarious threat to talent retention. Losing employees in this age bracket carries the greatest business impact, as it often means losing high-earning leaders and the specialized expertise they’ve built over decades.
Addressing the unseen burden
The spike in risk for women ages 40–54 is often driven by a complex confluence of perimenopause and menopause—including significant hormonal and physical changes—occurring alongside their most demanding career years.
Cleo was founded by an OBGYN to bridge the gap between these physical realities and the demands of daily life. With 66% of Cleo users identifying as women, our clinical expertise is built to support these unique physiological and logistical needs across the full spectrum of family forming, parenting, caregiving, and self-care.
Supporting this critical sector of your workforce
In a benefits landscape crowded with fragmented point solutions for specific needs like fertility, child care, or menopause, Cleo offers support for every life stage. For employers, this means moving from reactive support to a proactive women’s health strategy that follows an employee throughout their entire career.
By identifying these age-specific risks through the FHI, organizations can provide the tailored, clinical support necessary to keep their most vital leaders resilient and engaged from their first day to their last.
