Download the full Family Health Index Annual Report
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 26, 2026
The findings from Cleo’s Family Health Index™ (FHI) Report make one thing clear: caregiving is no longer just a personal challenge—it is a critical business metric. This is most evident in the FHI-productivity link, which quantifies how improving caregiver wellbeing directly impacts an organization’s bottom line.
The hidden cost of caregiving: productivity
For years, the impact of caregiving on work has been discussed in terms of “presenteeism”—employees being physically present but mentally distracted by family needs. The FHI report moves beyond theory to provide concrete data: higher burnout risk (indicated by lower FHI scores) is directly associated with significant losses in productivity.
According to the report, high-risk members with improved FHI scores saw an average increase of 7.9 points in their overall score. For those who improved by 7 points or more, this change resulted in an average of 64 hours of saved productivity annually. This translates to $4,029 in annual productivity savings for an employee with an average compensation of $93,796.
Why the FHI score matters
The FHI is a multi-dimensional tool that measures seven critical dimensions, including mental health, caregiving balance, and confidence. When these scores improve, it indicates that the mental health tax—the chronic stress and declining well-being caused by unsupported family responsibilities—is being mitigated.
The data shows a powerful population-wide trend: as Cleo members improve their FHI scores, they report a corresponding improvement in their ability to focus and complete tasks at work.
This isn’t just about feeling better; it’s about a workforce that is more resilient, focused, and present.
Moving from reactive to proactive support
When organizations provide proactive, individualized support—such as 1:1 guidance and personalized resources—they are protecting their most valuable asset: their people’s time and talent.
As the global caregiving crisis escalates, the FHI-productivity link provides a clear roadmap for HR and CFO leaders. By making caregiver burnout visible and measurable, organizations can stop issues before they hit a crisis point, ensuring both their employees and their businesses can thrive.
