Call for new legislation to be extended

New legislation introduced in April to allow adults with caring responsibilities to request flexible working hours does not go far enough, according to one leading HR specialist.

Helen Knight of Validium, which has offices in Glasgow and Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, says that while she welcomes the new legislation she is urging companies to extend their policies to cover friends and neighbours as well.

She said: ìWhile it is recognised that there are a huge number of people who are juggling full-time work with caring for elderly or disabled parents, this really is just the tip of the iceberg.

ìThere are also a large number of people who are responsible for looking after family, friends and neighbours who simply do not have anyone else and depend on them to take them to doctorís appointments, pick up prescriptions, help with housework and make meals.

ìIn the past far fewer women worked full time so they had time to help out people within their community. With better nutrition and advances in medical technology meaning that people live longer, there are many more people needing help and far fewer people able to give it.î

Helen, who has many years experience in the HR industry, says that while research shows that one in five carers finds it difficult to cope and gives up work to care full-time, this doesnít even factor in the carers of non-relatives, or people living at a different address.

She said: ìWhile it may seem a lot to ask employers to go that little bit further, and offer flexible hours in this situation, my experience is that in the long term companies will benefit. Not only will they retain valued staff members who would otherwise have had to leave, but they will also find their employees are more committed and are much more likely, to ëgo that extra mileí, for example, if there is a big order to fill or a deadline to meet.

ìI think that the government may eventually introduce this measure anyway so companies would be far better to introduce this as best practice now, rather than have it imposed on them later.î

Along with support in introducing a flexible working policy for carers, Validium is also able to offer companies a phone counselling service for their employees as part of its range of Employee Assistance Programmes.

Highly skilled specialists are on hand to give advice on financial, legal, medical, work and emotional issues along with face-to-face counselling to help carers to resolve difficult issues.

Janice Arbuckle, manager of Validiumís counselling team, said: ìThere is help out there for carers if they know where to look and we can suggest organisations they can get in touch with for help such as Meals and Wheels services and Carerís Support organisations.

ìApart from the practical side we can also offer emotional support as few people realise just how emotionally draining caring for people can be. A lot of carers work all day and then come home and do another long shift and never get any real respite. This can lead to them becoming burnt out and just not able to cope any more.

ìEven when carers do get a break and go on holiday they often spend all their time feeling guilty and worrying about their relative or friend. This is really counterproductive because they donít get the full benefit of their break. We can teach them ways to chase away guilty feelings and relaxation techniques which can help.î

Definition of Carers
The Work and Families Act defines a carer as an employee who is or expects to be caring for an adult who is:

Married to, or the partner or civil partner of the employee, or is a relative of the employee, or is neither category but lives at the same address as the employee making the application.

Who is covered by the Legislation?
An application for flexible working covers employees only, who have completed

26 weeks of continuous service at the date the application is made, and have not made another Flexible Working Request in the past 12 months.