Carers UK's definition of an unpaid carer is:
"anyone who has responsibility for care and support of relatives or friends who are older, disabled, seriously ill (physically or mentally) and unable to care for themselves".
The important role of employers
The importance of employers understanding the challenges faced by their employees, and putting in place support to ensure carers can continue to work and manage their caring responsibilities can't be overstated.
Organisations who adopt carer-friendly policies and practices report that the benefits range from improved recruitment and retention, improved sickness and absences, savings on recruitment and training costs, and improved staff morale.
The impact of caring on work
An average of 600 people a day leave work due to their caring role.
Due to the pressures of being an unpaid carer, they may need to reduce their working hours, leave work or pass up on promotional opportunities.
Unpaid carers can feel exhausted trying to juggle multiple roles and may feel they are failing at both. They may also feel lonely and isolated, which can affect their mental wellbeing
How to support the carers in your workplace
There are a number of ways you can support the carers in your workforce.
Be understanding
Not only is it important to be understanding, but it’s important to recognise who the carers are in your workplace, and what their individual needs and challenges are.
Understand some of the barriers preventing carers from identifying themselves, for example, some carers do not think of themselves as carers, simply seeing what they do as being a good relative or friend. They may be unaware of the support available at work, or they may be concerned that it could have a negative effect on their employment or relationship.
Make caring visible and encourage positive conversations about caring. This can be done in a one-to-one meeting or more broadly across your workplace.
Listen and encourage people to talk about issues affecting them
Treat carers with respect and compassion and be open to different perspectives, experiences and challenges that carers can face daily.
Be flexible
Along with formal requests for flexible working, a carer-friendly employer will support flexible working, for example, if a carer has to accompany the person they care for to medical appointments.
Be flexible on an ad hoc basis, for example if emergency leave is needed.
Be flexible for ongoing caring situations.
Provide information and guidance.
Provide signposting to workplace support and external support services and agencies.
Understand your workplace's approach to supporting carers
Some questions you can ask are:
- do you have a carers champion?
- what are your workplace policies and procedures, for example, carers leave, emergency time off, or flexible working?
- what are your workplace healthcare packages or employee assistance programmes?
- do you have peer-to-peer support networks?
Remember: small changes can make all the difference.
The Carer Friendly Employer Award
Whatever the size of your workplace, along with Derbyshire Carers Association, we can offer bespoke workplace training and support to achieve the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Award. The award considers:
- your understanding and identifying of carers in the workplace
- the support you already have and how this could be enhanced
- training opportunities
- a light touch review of policies and procedures
- how you communicate your workplace support to all members of staff.
Benefits to your organisation
Being carer-friendly can benefit your organisation in a number of ways:
- Retaining skilled, trained and experienced colleagues in the workplace
- Financial savings on recruitment and training
- Improved productivity and presenteeism, and reduced sickness and absenteeism
- Increased staff morale, inclusivity, and diversity and a reduction in workplace inequality
Health and wellbeing support
We're working with ORCHA, to provide a library of digital health and welling support. Search ORCHA for apps such as:
- Coordinate my care urgent care planning service
- Young carers support app