Helping employers give carers flexibility in the workplace

As a charity supporting people who Care, we know we are best placed to guide you as a member of an organisation employing and/or supporting carers in the workplace.

It is our intention, to provide you with the information and support you need to plan the best solution to creating a workplace culture where your employees can thrive.

This year, we launched The Employers’ Charter. As a business, you can pledge to support working carers in your employment and demonstrate your commitment to keep great people working through carer friendly policies, flexible working and training programmes to support your employees to better understand the needs of those who care outside of work.

1 in 4 people

1 in 4 working carers say they will need to leave employment if their caring increases without flexibility from their employer.

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We can give employers the right tools to enable them to provide understanding with flexibility, including short notice leave for all working carers
Terry Hawkins, CEO

We can help you to identify those in your employment who are balancing work with a caring role as well as offer different training solutions for line managers to better understand and adopt a flexible approach.

There is strong evidence of the business benefits of being a supportive employer for carers. With 1 in every 6 people leaving work everyday to care, the cost to your business in terms of additional recruitment costs and the potential loss of people with key skills can be avoided.

There are three key ways in which we can support employers including training packages for line managers, corporate membership including an online digital resource centre and the opportunity to support employees who care with a contribution towards their care costs, supporting them to balance the demands of their care role and stay in employment.

Join us and to make a difference for those who care in your employment – keep good people working for longer.

The benefits of this flexible approach for both employer and employee will not only result in a happier workforce, but also serve to increase staff retention, keep recruitment costs down and contribute towards keeping good people working, with the end result of enhancing the organisational reputation through great workplace culture.

Research by the University of Sheffield in 2020 says 44% of working carers struggle with the pressure of balancing their job with caring for a loved one. This equates to 1.6 million people across England and Wales.

Hidden Carers need more flexibility

Training

Training courses to support line managers be supportive and flexible to the needs of people who balance work with caring for a loved one

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Caring employers

Help with a contribution towards the cost of care for your employees. Consider a contribution towards the cost of care hours to keep good people in work.

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Membership

Join with employers membership – find out about how your organisation can benefit

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600 People

will leave employment every day across the UK to care for a friend or family member

1 in 7 people

employed will balance work with a caring responsibility

3 in 10

UK employees are now expected to be carers

Over 97% of parents and carers surveyed agreed that requiring employers to publish their flexible working and family-related leave and pay policies would be helpful. Over 97% of parents and carers also agreed that this increased transparency would make an employer more attractive to work for.

Over 97% of employers surveyed agreed that large companies (over 250 employees) should publish their flexible working and family-related leave and pay policies on their websites. Over 93% of employers agreed that doing so would be simple and inexpensive.

Over 89% of parents and carers surveyed agreed that employers should be required to advertise vacancies with part-time and/or flexible options. Over 84% of employed parents and carers and over 95% of unemployed parents and carers agreed that a lack of quality, permanent part-time job opportunities had been a barrier to applying for a new job.

Over 97% of employers surveyed agreed that advertising jobs with part-time and flexible options is helpful for recruiting and retaining staff. 89% of employers believed a requirement on companies to recruit flexibly would be effective, compared to just 33% who believed a voluntary approach would be effective.