Who Cares Wins: The Social and Business Benefits of Supporting Working Carers

This study has explored how three very different employers have created a supportive environment at work for carers. In each organisation, we surveyed employees about their caring responsibilities, interviewed staff who were carers, reviewed documentary evidence, and spoke with managers in senior, strategic
positions and line managerial roles. These case studies enabled us to assess what it is like to be employees, supervisors and managers in these organisations, and to gain insight into their organisational cultures and processes. The study also involved new statistical work on the 2001 Census, using specially commissioned data.

This confirmed how ubiquitous caring is – over 3 million people were combining work and care on Census day 2001. At some time in life, caring is a normal and everyday thing to do for most of us – both men and women, and people of all ethnicities and ages. Across the lifecourse, caring for others is likely to happen, at some point, to most of us.

Our research shows that employers can deliver effective support for carers, and that far from compromising their business objectives, providing the flexible approach which carers need brings impressive business gains.

Statistical Analysis : Who Cares Wins

A 24 page statisical report supplementary to the main Who Cares Wins research.

Key findings from our statistical analysis:

• Carers are found across all sectors of society and in all sections of the workforce
• Combining work and care is most likely to occur in people’s 40s and 50s, but can increasingly arise at any age
• There is some clustering of working carers in lower level jobs
• Working carers are less well qualified than other employees, and may need extra support through education and skills policies
• Some carers pay a ’poor health’ penalty for combining work and care. Over time this may compromise both their caring and their employment roles
• High levels of caring among some ethnic minority groups, especially at younger ages, suggest these carers face additional barriers in accessing paid employment and career opportunities