What are my rights as a working carer?
Your rights in work come from two sources:
- The law gives you ‘statutory rights’ which everyone has.
- Your contract of employment gives you ‘contractual rights’ which can be more generous than statutory rights.
In this section, we provide guidance about your statutory rights as a working carer. However, it's always worth checking your contract of employment, staff handbook, HR policies or letter of appointment to see if you have any contractual rights on top of your statutory rights.
Juggling work with care? Join our online information session
11 June - 2-3pm
During Carers Week, Kathryn von Stegmann (Senior Content and Development Officer at Carers UK) will be talking through Carers UK's information on your rights at work, having a conversation with your employer about caring, and the practical support that is available to you. You will then be welcome to ask questions and share your experiences.
What happens if I'm on a zero-hours contract?
Some people on zero-hours contracts may be engaged as employees (so would be covered by the Carer’s Leave Act) and others may be workers.
Your employment rights are based on this status (ie whether you are an employee or a worker) and not on having a zero-hours contract. (A zero-hours contract is not a legal term and the exact nature of this may vary from organisation to organisation.) There's some helpful guidance on the Acas website: Zero-hours contracts - Acas.
Acas advise individuals on zero-hours contracts to check their employment status and ask their employer for clarification if unsure. Check your employment status 'to help you to find out your full range of rights as an employee or worker'.
Further information
For further information about your general rights, see the GOV.UK website.
For a summary of your statutory rights, you can also take a look at our factsheet, Your rights in work.
Find out more about your rights at work
Latest updates
Carers Week 2025: Why we care about equality for carers
Carers UK Chief Executive Helen Walker shares a message to mark the start of Carers Week 2025.
Unpaid carers in employment need further support to improve their health and wellbeing
44% of carers in employment have had a mental or physical health condition develop or become worse since taking on…
Nearly half of UK adults with caring responsibilities say their health has been impacted since caring, reporting new or worsening conditions
43% of current or former carers have had a mental or physical health condition develop or become worse since taking…
Carers UK comments on the news that 9 million pensioners will receive the Winter Fuel Payment this Winter
We're really pleased to see that the Chancellor will be restoring the Winter Fuel Payment to 9 million pensioners whose…
Got a question about caring?
Every day we hear from people who need help with looking after a friend or family member
Become a member for free
Joining Carers UK is free and takes just a few minutes.