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Do I have to tell my employer about my caring responsibilities?
No, it is up to you whether you tell your employer or not. As an employee, you have some statutory rights (your employer must offer these), but your employer may also offer additional support. Before you decide to speak to your employer, you should find out more about your employer’s policy for supporting carers. Do this by checking your staff handbook or intranet or speaking to your:
• Line manager
• HR/personnel department
• Welfare officer or occupational health adviser
• Union or staff representative
• Colleagues
Should I tell other staff?
Colleagues can be very supportive, and it may help simply to discuss your situation with someone you can trust at work. You may find that other colleagues are also carers, and that together you are more able to talk to your employer about ways in which you could be supported. You might ask your employer to set up a support group, to find out how, together, you can find better ways of juggling your job and caring. The Metropolitan Police carried out a survey of carers in its workforce and set up focus groups to ask them about their support needs. This was led by Carers UK to guarantee confidentiality and is part of the Met’s commitment to developing a culture that allows carers to be open about their situation.