Canada 2026

At Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), our purpose is to improve the lives of unpaid caregivers across the province who provide essential support to family members or friends. One of the ways we do this is by providing free support to working caregivers and employers through our Workplace Program. Through this program we work with employers to effectively respond to a critical workforce reality: one in four working-age adults is an unpaid caregiver trying to balance employment and care responsibilities. This number is expected to rise steadily over the coming decade across Canada, impacting employers of all sizes and sectors. 

When caregiving demands are unrecognized or unsupported, employers face increased risks of absenteeism, turnover, lost productivity, and higher disability and benefit costs. Conversely, caregiver-inclusive workplaces experience stronger retention, higher engagement, and greater workforce resilience. Employers who proactively support working caregivers build a meaningful competitive advantage-positioning themselves as employers of choice in an increasingly tight and values-driven labour market. 

To help create these positive outcomes, we work with employers to integrate caregiver inclusion into people and workforce strategies through targeted education, practical guidance, and leadership practices. Our approach helps organizations mitigate workforce risk, strengthen employee performance, and connect working caregivers to free supports available - supporting both organizational sustainability and employee well-being.