Thursday 21 November is Carers Rights Day with the theme of “recognising your rights.”
Carers UK advise that every day, 12,000 people in the UK become unpaid carers for a partner, family member or a friend. Many of those people don’t see themselves as carers, so they’re often unaware of their legal rights and what they’re entitled to in terms of support and benefits.
Statistically, 15% of your workforce will have caring responsibilities for a relative or friend. So what does this mean for your business?
Carers Leeds, 6-8 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PT
We are delighted to announce that the Leeds Mindful Employer Network is hosting a webinar on this very important topic on January 23, 2025, “Why Supporting Working Carers Matters! A webinar by Carers Leeds”.
You can book your free place on the webinar today.
Leeds Mindful Employer Network Project Coordinator, Leigh Staunton, caught up with Jennie Sutherland from Carers Leeds to talk about how employers can support working carers and what we can expect from January’s webinar.
Can you tell our network members what is meant by the terms ‘unpaid carer’ and ‘working carer’?
A carer is someone who provides help and support to a family member, friend or neighbour, who couldn’t manage without their help. This could be due to illness, disability, mental health problems or substance misuse.
The support they provide is unpaid.
A working carer is all of the above, whilst also working in paid employment (so like holding down 2 jobs!).
Anyone, at any age or from any background, at any seniority at work, can become a carer.
Caring responsibilities can happen suddenly or gradually over a period of time.
Some carers may look after more than one person at a time e.g. a child with a disability and an elderly relative.
It’s estimated that 50% of the UK workforce will have caring responsibilities before they reach retirement age.
We know that this figure will only increase, as the retirement age increases, and as we’re living longer as a population.
What do we know about the number of unpaid and working carers in Leeds?
The census tells us there are 61,500 unpaid carers across the city of Leeds, but we know there will be many more people who don’t realise that the support they are providing to someone makes them a carer.
Statistically, 15% of the UK workforce are working carers; that’s 1 in 7 of everyone in employment.
Please tell us a bit about you and your role at Carers Leeds.
My role is Employer Partnerships Officer and I support employers to identify, engage, support and retain working carers within their organisations.
Jennie Sutherland, Employer Partnerships Officer at Carers Leeds
My background is in Talent Acquisition and Development, so I’ve always had one foot in the HR world. I understand the complexities and pressures on businesses to attract, develop and keep the very best people.
I am a working carer myself, caring for 2 different generations at the same time, so I have lots of practical experience to offer employers.
How does Carers Leeds support unpaid/working carers?
We provide information, advice and support to unpaid adult and working carers. This includes parent carers; parents of children with additional needs.
Our telephone Advice Line is answered by experienced and compassionate Carer Support Workers who can help with all aspects of being a carer, for example, how to navigate health and social care services, support to access welfare benefits, how to get a break from caring, or provide a listening ear when a carer is frustrated or upset.
Carers Leeds provides face-to-face support either at our office or in community venues as well as by telephone or virtually. After an assessment of someone’s situation, a carer may be referred to one of our specialist teams for more in-depth support over a period of weeks.
We also facilitate a range of support groups in venues across the city, providing an opportunity to meet others facing similar challenges. It can be a comfort to talk to other carers and know you are not on your own. We run a book group, a crafting group and a walk and talk group. We also provide training and information sessions about dementia, Power of Attorney and other topics.
Carers Leeds wants to ensure that every carer can access a break from caring, whether that’s a few hours a week or for a longer period of time. We administer a ‘Time for Carers’ grant enabling carers to access up to £250 (every 3 years) towards the cost of a break. Applications have included requests for funding to have a weekend away, gym membership and even roller skates!
Why should supporting working carers be on an employer’s agenda?
No business wants to lose their best workers, and all employers want to attract the best people.
600 people a day are leaving the UK workforce as the practicalities of juggling their caring role with their paid job become too much.
The biggest age group of working carers are those of 45-65 years old, effectively the most experienced and skilled people in your workforce.
Carers are likely to be tenacious, determined, patient, calm, highly-organised and unflappable – I’m sure you’ll agree these are essential skills for any team or workplace.
We know that when working carers are supported at work, their stress, sickness and unplanned absences are reduced, resulting in increased productivity and engagement.
Furthermore, supporting working carers enhances your employer brand, and helps to attract the best talent to your organisation.
There are legal reasons too. Despite caring not being a protected characteristic in law under the Equality Act, employers could face ‘indirect discrimination’ if an employee who cares for a loved one with a disability feels less advantaged or faces dismissal.
In April 2024, the government introduced the Carers Leave Act 2023, which gives working carers the right to take 5 unpaid days of Carers Leave per year.
15% of your workforce will have caring responsibilities outside of work. Do you know who they are? It makes good business sense to identify, engage, support and retain carers who want to remain in work.
What support does Carers Leeds offer employers in the city?
We work directly with employers on a one-to-one basis.
We provide tailored support to help you to identify, engage, support and retain working carers in your organisation, and work with you to create an action plan for improvements.
This can include training line managers or helping HR teams to develop and implement initiatives such as a Carers Passport, Carers Leave Policies and Carer Employee Networks.
We can also support you to launch a range of initiatives and events to make caring visible in your workplace.
Photo taken at a recent Carers Leeds Employer Forum, hosted at Channel 4
We host a quarterly Carers Leeds Employer Forum, where employers from across the city meet to share ideas and best practice in relation to working carers in their workplace.
The Forum is a roundtable event and free to join. We often hear from invited speakers, share updates about changes in legislation, and encourage lots of discussion around ideas to engage and support working carers.
What are some of the ways an employer could effectively support working carers in their organisation?
Working Carers need to feel that by identifying themselves as a carer they will be supported by their line manager and, where appropriate, by other colleagues. Employers could:
- Ensure line managers are ‘carer aware’ by providing training.
- Publicise and promote your organisation’s carer-friendly and flexible working policies.
- Implement a Carer Passport to record the type of support an individual carer needs from their employer. This can help a carer to perform and thrive in a supportive environment, without prejudice or discrimination.
- Make carers visible at work through a range of different initiatives, team days and events – celebrating Carers Week (June) and Carers Rights Day (November), for example
- Look for senior managers and leaders with caring responsibilities who would be willing to share their own experiences in a team meeting, newsletter or blog
- Create a culture of ‘It’s OK to talk about caring at work’, thereby encouraging other working carers to identify themselves and feel able to ask for support when needed.
Can you tell us a bit more about the Carers Leeds Employer Forum and who can join?
Leeds-based employers meet quarterly at our Carers Leeds Employer Forum to share initiatives and ideas around how to support working carers within their organisation.
We meet either in person in Leeds City Centre or via Teams and we host a mix of corporate, private, third sector and public sector organisations.
We share challenges and wins of supporting carers in the workplaces, as well national statistical data and updates or changes to legislation.
Our attendees mainly have a focus in HR, Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Wellness or Culture. We also welcome those who manage employee networks for working carers. All welcome!
On 3rd December 2024, Leeds Building Society will be hosting our next Carers Leeds Employer Forum, at their new Head Office in Leeds City Centre, starting at 1pm with a light lunch.
To join us please reserve your FREE place – https://buytickets.at/carersleeds/1419455
The theme for Carers Rights Day 2024 is “Know Your Rights”. Where can working carers find out more about their rights?
Working Carers should be made aware of their right to take unpaid Carers Leave, and to be aware of not being indirectly discriminated against.
The UK government website covers the practical detail of taking unpaid Carers Leave
Another really valuable resource is ACAS. ACAS gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They also offer help to resolve disputes. ACAS also provides template letters to help a working carer make a written flexible working request to their employer.
We are delighted that Carers Leeds are hosting a special webinar for the Leeds Mindful Employer Network, “Effectively Supporting Working Carers” on 23 January 2025. Tell us why network members should sign up to this free online event.
The webinar will increase your knowledge around:
- How to identify working carers in your workplace and how to offer support.
- Who working carers are, and the impact of having to balance paid employment whilst also caring for someone at the same time.
- Why it makes good business sense to support working carers in your business. We’ll highlight some straightforward working carer policies and initiatives that will help your business attract, support and retain carers in your workforce.
You can book your free place on this webinar today.
Thanks so much to Jennie for contributing to this blog.
Find out more about the support Carers Leeds can offer employers.
Are you not part of the Leeds Mindful Employer Network yet? It’s free, quick and simple to join by completing the sign up form.
