Call for employers to be 'carer friendly'

11 March 2010

Business, Government and charity leaders today backed better support for staff who balance a job with caring for an older or disabled person.

Ministers also announced that six government departments will sign an agreement with Employers for Carers on how they will work in partnership to develop and promote support for carers in the workplace. This will include guidance for employers and raising awareness of employees' right to request flexible working.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope, Children's Minister Baroness Delyth Morgan and Equalities Minister Michael Foster met with BT's Director of People and Policy Caroline Waters OBE and Carers UK's Chief Executive Imelda Redmond CBE at the Department of Health in Whitehall.

They stressed the importance of retaining experienced staff in the early stages of economic recovery and called on all employers to consider their policy. It is estimated that 1 in 7 people in work also have caring responsibilities. This is set to increase as the number of people needing care will nearly double in the next 20 years.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:

"Britain's population is ageing. The Government will soon publish plans for a fair, simple and affordable National Care Service to cope with the growing demand for care. But more people will have to juggle a job with caring for an older friend or relative.

"Support like flexible working and short-term emergency leave can help carers stay in work, retaining their experience in the workforce. I hope all employers will recognise the benefits of being carer friendly."

Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said:

"The Memorandum of Understanding is a vital step towards better support for carers in this country. We know that many people gladly take on caring responsibilities for relatives at some stage in their lives. We must ensure that employers provide appropriate support to their employees who have caring responsibilities, as well as looking at what more we can do to help families, in particular young people, avoid being over-burdened by their caring role.

"Through Support for All, the Families & Relationships Green Paper, we have outlined a renewed approach to support for carers of all ages and we are determined to make sure that all carers have the support and appropriate respite they need at home and at work. This will benefit the people they care for, their employers, and most importantly themselves."

Caroline Waters, Director of People and Policy for BT Group and Chair of Employers for Carers, said:

"Employers for Carers is delighted to be a partner to this landmark agreement.

"Forward looking employers are already supporting the carers in their workforce to remain in, or return to, employment. But we also need good public services - right across care and support, education and skills - to truly make the choice to work a reality for the UK's carers. That's why we welcome the creation and publication today of this unique partnership agreement between employers and government.

"This Memorandum creates a new model for action-based collaboration between employers and government on key social/labour market issues. Creating economic opportunity out of demographic challenge, it is a best practice model that can be adopted by other governments around the world to tackle what is a global demographic and workforce issue."

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK, said:

"Carers UK warmly welcomes this unique agreement, where, for the first time, six Government departments have understood the significance of supporting carers in the workplace. It is still a common occurrence that people fall out of work unnecessarily because of caring responsibilities. A staggering one in six people give up work to care for a relative or friend who becomes disabled, ill or frail not only at great personal cost, but also at significant cost to the economy.

"Carers UK has been working with employers for many years to help them retain their staff, resulting in demonstrable business benefits. Supporting carers in the workplace is not just about helping families to manage their daily lives but it is also about helping employers to retain talent in their workforce which is vital for a strong economy."

Author: Department of Health press release