The Structural Gap in Employee Benefits
Employee Assistance Programmes and wellbeing tools typically activate during crisis.
But caring pressures build long before that.
In the UK:
- 1.4 million working adults are in the “sandwich generation”
- 9% of carers leave work entirely
- 28% reduce hours to manage care
- 2.5 million carers are balancing employment and care responsibilities
For employers, this means:
- Mid-career attrition
- Reduced engagement
- Productivity drag
- Hidden retention risk
For benefit providers, it means something more serious:
A gap in preventative support within the existing benefits stack.
The Integration
Through its group risk arrangement via Zurich Insurance, employees at Ofcom accessed Podplan as part of their workplace benefits.
Podplan delivered:
- Structured later-life planning guidance
- Practical tools for organising care decisions
- Ongoing weekly insights to prompt early action
- A clear pathway to further support
Importantly, this required:
- No additional HR administration
Employee-Level Proof
Kayt Button — Ofcom employee & co-chair of the Parents and Carers Staff Network
“I have access through my work benefits. As my mother’s primary carer, I’ve found it incredibly useful personally, and I recommend it to carers across our organisation.”
When asked why she joined:
“After an introductory talk and a personal response to my question, I felt this was designed by people genuinely committed to helping. It even helped me solve a practical need — arranging a temporary stairlift.”
On ongoing value:
“Small insights — like practical tips shared in weekly emails — often solidify solutions I’ve been thinking through. Caring can feel isolating, but knowing there are resources to draw on is hugely reassuring.”
Outcomes
Podplan didn’t just help one employee — it provided workforce-wide support with measurable benefits for Ofcom’s carers community.
Impact
- Practical, early guidance that reduces stress and promotes informed decision-making
- Shared learning that empowers workplace carer networks
- Increased confidence and reduced isolation among carers
Why Employers Benefit
- Reduces risk of absence or reduced hours due to caregiving pressures
- Enhances workforce wellbeing and retention
- Builds a support ecosystem that extends beyond traditional EAP models
Implications for Benefit Providers
This case demonstrates that Podplan can:
- Strengthen a benefits portfolio with high-relevance, mid-life support
- Address a growing workforce demographic (working carers)
- Enhance perceived employer value between renewal cycles
- Deliver preventative engagement beyond traditional EAP models
- Integrate without increasing operational complexity
Preventative eldercare support is both commercially relevant and emotionally resonant.
It extends the benefit conversation beyond crisis response into structured life-stage planning.
Strategic Takeaway
Working carers are a retention risk — and a loyalty opportunity.
Podplan gives benefit providers a scalable way to:
- Protect employer workforce stability
- Increase proposition relevance
- Add preventative depth to their benefits ecosystem