Dear Sir,
It is a year ago this month since around 2.6 million carers in the UK were given the right, under the Work and Families Act 2006, to request flexible working ñ this is designed to help carers stay in work.
Unfortunately, a year on, many employers and employees are still unaware of the Act. This is a crying shame ñ carers have a lot to offer in their jobs and they must be supported. The alternative for them can be as drastic as having to give up their jobs altogether, often leading to
poverty and isolation. This is a big loss for the employer too, particularly if employee has years of skills and experience behind them.
The vast majority of carers are of working age and around 3 million carers already combine work and care - this means that 1 in 7 people in the workforce is a carer. With the Prime Minister soon to announce a new national strategy for carers, part of which will seek to offer more support for carers in this particular area, itís time employers asked
themselves if they are doing enough.
Flexible working enables carers to change their working hours and conditions to better fit the realities of caring. Furthermore, research with employers has shown that those who support carers in their workforce have lower staff turnover, reduced recruitment and retraining costs, improved productivity and reduced absenteeism. In other words, the benefits are mutual, so letís make sure the Act is implemented and support this valuable section of the UKís workforce.
For more information about the Work and Families Act, Carers UK has teamed up with DTI, ACAS, British Chamber of Commerce and British Gas to produce a pack for employers, which is available from its website at the link below:
Yours Sincerely
Imelda Redmond
Chief Executive, Carers UK
Letter to the editor: from Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK
It is a year ago this month since around 2.6 million carers in the UK were given the right, under the Work and Families Act 2006, to request flexible working
