Care vs Career | How hidden caring pressures are shaping progression in 2026

Balancing work with caring responsibilities continues to be one of the most significant pressures facing working parents and carers in 2026.

ften described as the “silent load,” these largely invisible demands are still shaping who progresses, who stays, and who quietly steps back. And although the landscape has evolved since the pandemic, the weight of care continues to fall unevenly — particularly on women.