A new analysis of Census 2021 data by Carers UK shows that around 1.6 million people in full-time employment in England and Wales were also looking after someone who was elderly, disabled, or with a long-term health condition, and 948,000 people in part-time employment were also unpaid carers. In Lewisham, Data from the Office for National Statistics shows 19,957 people living in Lewisham who are looking after someone without being paid when the census was carried out in March 2021.
The new rights are particularly important as around 600 people give up work to care a day due to a lack of flexibility and support. Unpaid carers face this issue throughout organisations, from the Board to the most junior staff members.
The sectors with the highest number of unpaid carers set to benefit from these rights are public administration, education, and health (976,000). This is followed by the distribution, hotels, and restaurants sector (443,000) and financial, real estate, professional, and administrative (396,000).
For the first time, unpaid carers will be able to take up to five days of unpaid leave each year to better balance work and caring responsibilities. Employees can take time off in full, half days, or a whole block of five days. Those taking time off will have the same employment protection associated with other forms of family-related leave, such as protection from dismissal as a result of having taken the leave.
Establishing the Carer's Leave Act is a significant stride towards recognising the indispensable role of millions of unpaid carers. The Act empowers unpaid carers to seek support in the workplace in the form of unpaid Carers’ leave. This legal entitlement acknowledges the importance of their caring responsibilities and serves to alleviate stress arising from juggling work and caring duties. The absence of proper support often leads to the loss of skilled and valued employees from their jobs.
The Maximising Wellbeing for Unpaid Carers program is already reaching out to organisations and companies to train staff as Carer Champions and share information on the topic. We are encouraging and educating employers on this new Carer’s Leave Act and to understand more about their employees who have caring responsibilities.
If you work for a company that you feel could benefit from receiving information on Carers Champion roles, please get in touch with steven.keily@imago.community
