Carers UK has urged the government to change legislation to allow working carers to take one week paid leave each year.
After its research revealed that many employees could not afford to take leave to meet their obligations, the charity is asking ministers to extend carer’s statutory rights.
The findings, released to coincide with Carers’ Rights Day on 21 November, reveal that financial barriers are the main barrier for more than half of working caregivers (56%) to access their entitlement.
The Carer’s Leave Act of 2023 allows employees in England and Wales to take up to a week a year for the care of a dependent who has a need for long-term care.
The Carers UK State of Caring Survey 2024 supported by TSB Bank found that 78% of respondents felt paid leave would help them balance work and caring for a friend, family member or neighbor.
Researchers found that unpaid leave for caregiving was more affordable for workers aged 18-44 compared with those aged 45-64. They also found that younger workers were more concerned about the negative reactions they might receive from their managers or co-workers when they requested leave.
Helen Walker, Carers UK’s chief executive, says that carers need to get the “recognition and help” they deserve, as “the value of unpaid care continues to grow at an unbelievable rate”.
She added: “Many caregivers find it increasingly hard to juggle care and work, especially if they do not receive enough support. The Carer’s Leave Act, which benefits over 2 million workers, was a great step forward. However, it is important that unpaid caregivers who wish to continue working are able.
“Carers’ Rights Day is a day to raise awareness about the rights and support that carers deserve and to continue to campaign for new ones, so carers can choose between work and caring without having their finances affected.”
Walker said that the introduction of paid leave would benefit women, who are likely to provide more unpaid care than men and those with low wages.
The charity also urges employers to introduce the Carer’s Leave Act in their organisations, to become more carer-friendly, and to go the extra mile by implementing policies that pay for caregivers.
Ariam Enraght Moony, chief person officer at TSB explained that the bank provides two weeks paid leave to employees with caring responsibilities. He believes other businesses should also follow suit.
It is clear that caregivers who are working should receive better support to fulfill their duties. She said that “the reality is, far too many people simply cannot afford unpaid leave to care for their loved ones.” We have personally seen the positive impact on both our colleagues and those they care for. We encourage all large businesses to offer this essential support.
Mary Bright, head of the social sustainability group at Phoenix Group, says that flexible working arrangements are becoming more important for caregivers. She points out that over 2.6 million people quit their jobs to take care of a loved one, and an additional 5 million will be juggling both work and caring duties by 2024.
She stated: “Flexible work arrangements are essential to combat this ongoing crisis of carer poverty by helping carers balance responsibilities and remain in paid employment for longer. We encourage all employers to provide comprehensive flexible work policies and 10 days of paid carer’s leaves to retain valuable and experienced workers. This will also allow them to build up their savings and continue to earn. The government should also encourage greater flexibility in working and consider legislating paid carer’s leaves to improve carers’ quality of life and their ability to continue in work.
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
Personnel Today has the latest HR job openings.
Browse Human Resources Jobs
