Carers UK is welcoming new rights being set out in the Employment Rights Bill today which will further support unpaid carers, such as positive changes to flexible working. The charity is also calling on the Government to use the Bill as an opportunity to build on workplace rights for carers and lay the foundations for paid Carer’s Leave.

An estimated 600 unpaid carers leave the workplace every day to care for older, ill or disabled relatives and friends. This can have a catastrophic impact on finances for families, both in the short and long-term. In addition, the loss to the employers’ productivity can be significant as they lose talented employees, face gaps in staff and recruitment costs and challenges.

The economic impact of this is significant. Centrica – a member of Employers for Carers and a leading carer-friendly employer - has suggested that the UK could benefit from £8.2 billion in productivity gains by ensuring supportive policies for unpaid carers in the workplace, due to increased worker retention and reduced recruitment costs.

Our research shows that the upfront cost to Government of implementing paid Carer’s Leave is estimated to only be £5.5 to £32 million, depending on the model adopted. In contrast, the costs of people having to leave work because of their caring responsibilities – based on Carer’s Allowance payment figures and lost tax revenues – is an estimated £1.3 billion a year.

Carers UK would like to see the Government using the Bill to provide the framework needed to introduce paid Carer’s Leave, giving them an opportunity of consulting and considering detail in the same way that other aspects of the Bill are being considered.

Unpaid carers have said that several things would make a difference including:

• Greater flexibility at work
• The right to paid Carer’s Leave, building on the existing rights to up to five days of unpaid Carer’s Leave and
• Better social care that supports them to work, in the same way that childcare does

The Employment Rights Bill will:

• Introduce new provisions for flexibility – by changing the law to make flexible working the default for all, unless an employer can prove it’s unreasonable.   
• Introduce powers to create a Fair Pay Agreement in the adult social care sector. Government sees this as being a key mechanism to support care staff where there are poor pay rates, large recruitment gaps and high turnover rates.  If properly funded, this could be a critical part of ensuring that there is a strong care sector to support unpaid carers and their families.

The Government has said that helping carers in the workplace is an important element in their plans to modernise the world of work, ensuring that there are good jobs for unpaid carers, and a skilled workforce for employers. They have pledged to review the implementation of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 and examine all the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s leave, whilst being mindful of the impact on small businesses. 

2.3 million people across Great Britain are employees with unpaid caring responsibilities for older, disabled or ill relatives or friends.  Previous research from Carers UK has found that 75% of carers in employment worry about continuing to juggle work and care.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:

“This Bill will introduce several provisions likely to help unpaid carers juggle work and care, which we warmly welcome. Many carers say that although they don’t want to give up work to care, they feel they have no choice but to do so. This could have a particularly positive impact on workers aged over 50 and those who are women, who are more likely to provide substantial unpaid care for disabled, older and ill relatives and friends.

“Having pledged to consider paid Carer’s Leave, we need to see Government lay the foundations, creating provisions to build on in the future.

“The Employment Rights Bill is only part of the story. To help unpaid carers to stay in work, we need to ensure that there is sufficient investment to deliver a thriving strong social care sector which supports families and an NHS Plan which contains concrete and robust measures to fully assist unpaid carers.”