“Sandwich generation” under growing pressure as caring responsibilities squeeze financial wellbeing

Around one in seven UK parents are now financially supporting both their children and ageing parents, highlighting the growing pressures facing the so-called “sandwich generation” and the implications for workplace wellbeing.

New research from Vitality found that 14 per cent of parents are balancing financial responsibilities across two generations, while more than half (51 per cent) of parents with children under 18 said the cost of supporting their children is a significant financial challenge. A further one-third (33 per cent) also reported struggling with the cost of helping their own parents.

The findings point to the increasing complexity of employees’ financial and caring responsibilities, as employers continue to grapple with rising levels of financial stress, absenteeism and caregiver burden across the workforce.

The research also highlights how illness or injury could leave many families vulnerable.

More than one in four (26 per cent) parents with children under 18 said they would not feel confident securing additional childcare if they became too ill to work or care for their family, suggesting many households lack the resilience to cope with unexpected health events.

Despite these risks, more than half (57 per cent) admitted they did not consider income protection when they became parents.

The research suggests the challenge extends beyond immediate financial pressures.

While almost two-thirds (62 per cent) said they would feel uncomfortable relying on family members for financial or care support in later life, many have yet to plan for how they would fund their own future care. Nearly one in five (18 per cent) said they were unsure how they would cover later-life care costs, while almost one-quarter (23 per cent) had not considered the issue at all.

Andy Philo, director of strategic partnerships at Vitality, said today’s financial pressures are making it harder for families to prepare for future risks.

“Many people are focused on meeting the multiple demands of supporting their families today, which can leave little time or capacity to plan for future financial risks,” Philo said.

“The findings highlight how closely linked today’s financial pressures and tomorrow’s planning decisions have become. While many people are focused on supporting children or ageing parents, fewer have considered how they would cope financially if illness affected their ability to work, or how they might fund their own care needs later in life.”

The findings add to growing evidence that caregiving responsibilities are becoming a significant workforce issue rather than simply a personal challenge.

Employees in the sandwich generation often face competing demands on their time, finances and emotional wellbeing, balancing careers alongside childcare and caring for ageing relatives. Previous research has linked these pressures with increased stress, burnout, reduced productivity and a greater likelihood of leaving the workforce.

As the UK’s workforce continues to age and people have children later in life, the number of employees juggling responsibilities across multiple generations is expected to grow, making support for the sandwich generation an increasingly important consideration for workplace wellbeing strategies.