Work and Caring

The UK

Unsurprisingly 1 in 5 carers give up work to care full time. This means that companies lose experienced staff since most carers are caring for an elderly relative and thus fall into the 45-64 age bracket. With the number of carers in the UK set to grow from 6 million to 9 million over the next 30 years, companies are slowly starting to factor in the need to accommodate workers who have caring responsibilities.

Carers UK produces a very useful factsheet about working whilst being a carer:

FactsheetUK9031 – Supporting working carers: a guide to requesting flexible working

Right to time off

The Employment Rights Act 1996 (in Northern Ireland The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) gives all employees the right to take a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant. Whether the time off is paid or not is at the discretion of the employer.

A dependant includes your husband, wife or partner, child or parent, or someone living with you as part of your family. Others who rely on you for help in an emergency may also qualify.

The situations where leave might be taken are:

a disruption or breakdown in care arrangements
to deal with the death of a dependant
if a dependant falls ill, has been assaulted or in an accident
to make longer term arrangements for a dependant who is ill or injured (but not to provide long term care yourself).
to deal wth an incident involving a child during school hours

To use this right to time off, employees must inform their employer as soon as possible after the emergency has happened.

This right can also give you some protection from victimisation and dismissal. If you think you have been treated unfavourably because of using this right, seek further advice from your union or a legal adviser.

Thinking of giving up work?

Think about the things you would be giving up, and whether you really want to lose them:

Will you manage with less money?
Do you want to give up the independence and social contact you have through your work?
Will you lose valuable skills if you leave?
How would leaving work affect your future pension entitlement?

Then think about ways around the problem, could you:

Make a request for flexible working?
Take paid or unpaid leave to think about your long-term options?
Take a career break?
Ask for extra help from social services?
Buy in care?

Employers for Carers

Employers for Carers is a membership forum of employers chaired by British Gas and supported by Carers UK. The leadership of Employers for Carers is provided by BT, Listawood, the University of Leeds and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Together with other members such as British Gas, the Metropolitan Police, the Government Equalities Office, NHS Trusts and local councils they are already rising to the challenge of supporting carers in their workforce.

“Employers for Carers believes carers should have choices about work. It is important that those carers who want to work, and are able to do so, get the right support.”

This is what Employers for Carers does:

Provides advice and support for employers seeking to develop carer friendly policy and practice and retain skilled workers.
Identifies and promotes the business benefits of supporting carers in the workplace.
Influences government and employment policy and practice to create a culture which supports carers in and into work.