Stress of juggling work and unpaid care for relatives causes thousands of unpaid carers to leave the workplac
Stress of juggling work and unpaid care for relatives causes thousands of unpaid
carers to leave the workplace
• 41% of unpaid carers have given up work to provide unpaid care.
• 57% of unpaid carers who have stopped working or reduced hours at work to care
• 20% of unpaid carers who have given up work or reduced their working hours to care
said that having the ability to take time off through unpaid carer’s leave would help
them return to paid employment or increase their working hours.
A new report by Carers Wales and Carers UK shows that caring commitments for relatives
or friends who are older, disabled or seriously ill are having a significant impact on people’s
capacity to work and earn a full time wage.
The ONS Census 2021 found that in Wales, there are over 144,000 unpaid carers in
employment (excluding full time students). Carers Wales research in 2019 found that the
number of unpaid carers combining caring with paid employment could be as high as
223,000 people in Wales; 1 in 7 of all workers.
Caring increases the risks of poorer health and wellbeing, poverty and impacts on
businesses and the economy. For Carers Rights Day (Thursday 23rd November, 2023)
Carers Wales is highlighting new UK-wide legislation set to give carers further support and
protection in the workplace.
The Carer’s Leave Act, coming into force in April 2024 at the earliest, will give carers the
right to take up to five days of unpaid carer’s leave. A new Flexible Working Act, due to come
into effect in 2024, will also give employees the right to ask their employer for flexible
working from day one of their employment.
Claire Morgan, Director at Carers Wales, said:
“Many carers would prefer to stay in work, but face the impossible choice of having to juggle
work with caring responsibilities in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis which is already
disproportionately impacting on unpaid carers.
“Not only is there a moral case for employers to support their staff with caring
responsibilities, but there is a business case as well. Businesses that we work with via our
Employers for Carers service have seen reduced recruitment costs and improved staff
morale and wellbeing, having introduced carer confident policies.
“Unpaid carers play a vital role in our society, at Carers Wales we want to see more
employers in Wales go further to support staff with caring responsibilities. Carers Wales
stands ready to support them to do this.”
Employers can make a valuable difference when it comes to retaining carers in employment
and supporting unpaid carers to return to work.
• 74% of carers said that flexible working helps them to juggle work and care.
• 70% of carers said that working from home some of the time would help them.
56% of carers said that recognition of their caring role by their employer would
support them in balancing work and care.
The report sets out recommendations for the UK Government, Welsh Government and
employers in Wales to improve carers rights today, tomorrow and in the future, such as:
• Employers should consider being “early adopters” of the new legislation and to go
one step further and introduce the leave as paid carer’s leave, making it even more
accessible to employees.
• The benefits of this legislation could be further enhanced by measures to help carers
juggle work and care within the benefits system. The UK Government should be
increasing the earnings limit on Carer’s Allowance to 21 times the National Living
Wage and should introduce a dedicated Work Allowance for carers in receipt of
Universal Credit.
• The Welsh Government should review how measures to support carers in
employment align with the aspirations to embed Fair Work in Wales. They should
utilise the Workforce Partnership Council and the Social Partnership Council to
formulate steps to spread awareness of the incoming legislation and promote the
adoption of best practice measures to support carers in employment.
For more information visit the Employers for Carers Wales website.