Healthcare workers face high pressure from combining professional and caregiving duties

A joint publication by CBS and AZW reveals that employees in the healthcare and welfare sectors are more likely to provide informal care at home compared to other sectors. In 2025, 201,000 healthcare workers faced long-term care situations, with 83 percent providing care themselves, compared to 75 percent of employees in other sectors.

Despite these responsibilities, healthcare workers take less leave to manage these duties. Only about one-third of healthcare caregivers take leave (including vacation days), whereas 47 percent of workers in other sectors do so. While these professionals are less likely to work from home, they are more likely to reduce their working hours.

The FBZ union is using these findings to advocate for legally regulated and paid caregiving leave. The data suggests that the dual burden of professional and domestic caregiving can lead to burnout and staff shortages. While managerial empathy is helpful, the union emphasizes the need for structured support, clear information on regulations, and fixed workplace agreements.