Employers for Carers’ Post

Today, the Carer’s Leave Act (2023) comes into effect, providing carers across the UK, who are in employment, with 5 additional days of unpaid leave to fulfil caring responsibilities. This legislation is an important recognition of the (often) unpaid and unseen work done by carers, and the impacts that trying to juggle work responsibilities and caring responsibilities can have on individual (and, more widely, societal) wellbeing. We know that an estimated 2 million UK citizens balance working and caring responsibilities and approximately 600 workers leave the domestic workforce, each day, to fulfil caring responsibilities. It’s hoped that this legislation will help to mitigate the pressures placed on working carers, help to improve their wellbeing, and reduce the number of people leaving the domestic workforce.

Now this, is a very thought provoking piece of legislation. It supports employees who have responsibilities to care for loved ones with long term needs. ◇ It is in effect from the first day of employment, ◇ It can be taken as whole or half days ◇ It protects the employee from dismissal if they seek to find time to look after those who meet the criteria under the Act. Workers in Scotland, Wales and England will benefit from this legislation, which takes effect from today, April 6th, 2024. As with all laws that seek to protect and preserve rights, once it is not abused, it is an excellent step in the right direction of managing the mental health of staff because of the stress it will assist in alleviating for caregivers. Do those of us outside of the reach of this and similar legislation need to wait on our governments to consider comparable measures? Or, are we able to consider options that support our staff in positive ways that also serve to blaze a trail and address silent pain points while balancing/ enhancing productivity? Just something to consider.

Now this, is a very thought provoking piece of legislation. It supports employees who have responsibilities to care for loved ones with long term needs. ◇ It is in effect from the first day of employment, ◇ It can be taken as whole or half days ◇ It protects the employee from dismissal if they seek to find time to look after those who meet the criteria under the Act. Workers in Scotland, Wales and England will benefit from this legislation, which takes effect from today, April 6th, 2024. As with all laws that seek to protect and preserve rights, once it is not abused, it is an excellent step in the right direction of managing the mental health of staff because of the stress it will assist in alleviating for caregivers. Do those of us outside of the reach of this and similar legislation need to wait on our governments to consider comparable measures? Or, are we able to consider options that support our staff in positive ways that also serve to blaze a trail and address silent pain points while balancing/ enhancing productivity? Just something to consider.

Did you know that an average of 600 people a day leave their job due to care responsibilities? Let that number sink in… This #NationalCarersWeek we want to not only appreciate employees who provide unpaid care, but highlight a recently implemented law that employers should be aware of 👇 The ‘Carer’s Leave Act’ came into effect on the 6th April, giving employees in Great Britain with a long-term unpaid caring responsibility the right to take up to five days of unpaid carer’s leave per year – and about time, too! Protection from unfair dismissal or detriment as a result of taking this leave will help carers in your team better manage the tiredness, stress, and physical or mental challenges associated with unpaid care. According to Carers UK, it’s estimated that when employers provide carer support within the workplace, it saves UK companies up to £4.8 billion a year in unplanned absences – and a further £3.4 billion in improved retention 💷 Go one step further by providing relevant employee benefits to those who need them most, all via our free-to-use platform: alltoogether.com #unpaidcarers #carersleave #employeehealth #employeewellbeing

#TuesdayTip: Find out if your employer has a carers' leave policy in place. Since April of this year, the Carers' Leave Act gives everyone with care responsibility the right to 1 week's paid leave. However, the Act is just a minimum legal requirement - see whether your employer has a policy of their own and what you're actually entitled to. We're here for carers - for support and advice - get in touch: 01394 387070 (don’t forget to leave a message if we don’t answer - we’ll always come back to you) or advice@daseastsuffolk.org . . #carersleaveact #carer #adviceforcarers #careresponsibility #legalrequirement #supportandadvice #disabilityadvice #carersleavepolicy #daseastsuffolk

A very important step forward. Yet more is still needed to ensure unpaid Carers can continue to function effectively. Let's not forget: 2 in 3 of us will take this on this role at some point yet nearly three quarters of people (73 per cent) who currently provide unpaid care, or have provided care in the past, have never identified as or called themselves a carer. They typically say they are looking after a family member or friend. Employers should look on this as a staff retention aid (and do more to support unpaid carers where they can). Unpaid carers support their loved ones, and save the country the cost of a second NHS (£152 billion) yet their own health and finances often suffer. We should all help where we can!

2.3 million workers with unpaid caring responsibilities in Great Britain are now entitled to take up to five days unpaid leave with the new Carer’s Leave Act that came into force on the 6th April. For the first time, employees who are unpaid carers are able to take up to five days unpaid leave if they need to provide or arrange care for someone with a long term care need, to better balance work with caring responsibilities each year. Employees can take time off in full or half days, or in a whole block of five days.     To find out how we can support you and your employees in the workplace please contact employers@carerswales.org #unpaidcarers #CarersLeaveAct

Countdown 5 - April 2024 changes With the number of employees organising care around their work schedules significantly increasing, the Government has introduced NEW law which comes into place on 6 APRIL 2024. This is called THE CARERS LEAVE ACT…. …. And it does exactly what it says on the tin! It provides employees who are carers, leave from work for that very purpose. In particular, this law allows employees to take up to ONE week of UNPAID leave each year to provide or arrange care for a “dependent” with “long term care needs”. Naturally those things are defined in the law. But it also specifies how that leave can be taken, the notice to be given and your approach as an employer etc. If we can help and give further guidance on the small print of the legislation or help by providing a policy, please drop me or the team a line. Laura Kearsley Peter Nicholson Ruby Rai Kate Frisby Zara Gasztowicz and Chloe Hickling #employmentlawchanges2024 #carersleaveact2024 #unpaidweekleaveforcarers #longtermcareneeds #policyforcarers

A new report from Carers UK argues that introducing paid carer’s leave could boost productivity, while improving millions of workers’ lives. It estimates that it would cost the government between £5.5 million to £32 million annually, if the statutory right to five days of unpaid carer’s leave for all employees with unpaid caring responsibilities was turned into paid carer’s leave. In contrast, the cost 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. Read more - https://lnkd.in/eCXfkbQC

🚨 EMPLOYEE ALERT 🚨 Since 6th April 2024, there's now a new entitlement that will change the game for carers. Carer’s Leave allows you to take leave to provide care or arrange assistance for any dependent in need, not just family members. 🙌 Don't miss this crucial employee benefit - learn more about it in a blog post by Paycheck Plus By IRIS. #CarersLeave #EmployeeBenefits #SupportForEmployees