Thinking about work as a carer

Work and caring

If you are trying to juggle caring with paid employment you are not alone. The UK has nearly five million working carers – 1 in 7 of all workers. You may feel under additional pressure and stress because of your caring role – and have extra needs.

It’s up to you whether you tell your employer about your caring responsibilities. You may prefer not to. However, if you do tell them, they will better understand the pressures you are under and you will be able to access any support they provide. Some companies have carers policies for example, or workplace carers support groups. The help you need could be very simple and easy to arrange – e.g. access to a private room to make calls.

There are also statutory rights you are entitled to, and you are protected from discrimination – employers cannot treat you less favourably because of your caring role.

Find out what support your employer has – check your staff handbook or intranet, or speak with your line manager or HR.

Carer’s Leave Act

In May 2023, following a long progress through parliament, the Carers Leave Bill gained Royal Assent, and is now the Carer’s Leave Act 2023. From an – as yet – unspecified date in 2024, it will become officially ‘live’ and means employees across great Britain have a new statutory right to take up to one week of unpaid Carer’s Leave – irrelevant of how long you’ve been working there, or your role.

About the Carer’s Leave Act

Telling colleagues

Similarly your colleagues can be very supportive, once they know about your caring role. It can be helpful just to have someone to chat with. You may find others who are carers too.

If you think you might need to leave

If you are finding it difficult to juggle caring and work, you may be thinking of giving up your job. Before you do anything, do think about what you may be losing:

• Income
• Skills
• Occupational pension
• Companionship of colleagues
• Independence and a sense of ‘self’

Have a think about your own personal circumstances and what you need to facilitate you to stay in work. Then, talk to your employer who may be able to accommodate the changes or suggest other ways of allowing you to continue working. For them, allowing you some flexibility could be less time-consuming and more cost-effective than to recruit and train someone else.

You could also find out if it is possible to take a career break, early retirement or voluntary redundancy.