Employee Benefits poll: More than half (56%) of respondents think that working carers should have distinct employment rights in addition to employees’ statutory employment rights.
A straw poll of www.employeebenefits.co.uk readers, which received 41 responses, also found that 37% of respondents do not believe that working carers should have separate employment rights as well as statutory employee rights. A minority (7%) do not know whether working carers should have distinct employment rights or not.
Earlier this month, The Department of Health and Social Care published a two-year, cross-government action plan on how to improve the available support for carers in England.
The Carers action plan 2018-2020: support carers today report investigates issues that carers might encounter in the workplace, and details measures that the government, working alongside employers, relevant charities, providers and associations, will look to action in support of working carers.
One of the measures being considered is the implementation of dedicated employment rights for carers, which will operate alongside existing employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working and the right to time off for family and dependants. A working group of four government departments will analyse this and further consider how any new carers leave proposal can be most effective.
The report’s employment and financial wellbeing section highlights initiatives across four key areas: improving working practices, flexible working, returning to work and financial support.
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