As Carers Week continues with a focus on employment, John Perryman, Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Work, Care and Equality) at Carers UK, explores why supporting unpaid carers to stay in work must be central to building carer-friendly communities. In this blog, John reflects on the launch of the Government's consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and sets out why stronger workplace support is essential to help carers balance paid work with caring responsibilities, benefiting carers, employers and the wider economy.
As we mark Carers Week and its theme of Building Carer Friendly Communities, Wednesday's focus on employment shines a light on a challenge facing millions of unpaid carers across the UK: balancing paid work with their caring responsibilities.
Creating carer-friendly communities means recognising that carers are an integral part of workplaces. They are our colleagues, managers, employees, and peers. For many carers, paid employment is not only a source of income but also an important connection to their wider communities, wellbeing and future financial security. Yet too often, carers are forced to make difficult choices between work and care because the support available simply does not reflect the realities of their lives.
That’s why the launch yesterday of the Department for Business and Trade's long-awaited consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers is such a significant development.
This consultation presents an important opportunity to address one of the most pressing and growing challenges facing the UK labour market. Our recently published Tipping Point research highlighted the extent to which hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers are being pushed to reduce their working hours or leave employment altogether because workplace structures and employment rights do not adequately support people who combine paid work with unpaid care.
This is not a niche issue affecting a small number of employees. Millions of people across the UK are juggling work alongside caring for disabled, older or seriously ill relatives and friends. The impact can be far-reaching, affecting income, career progression, wellbeing and long-term financial security.
For many carers, leaving work because of caring responsibilities can have profound and lasting consequences. Reduced earnings, lower pension savings, financial insecurity, social isolation, and poorer physical and mental health can all result from being unable to remain in employment.
The impact extends beyond individual carers. Employers face challenges with recruitment, retention and workforce participation, while the wider economy loses valuable skills and experience. Indeed, the Government estimated last year that carers being out of work costs the economy £37 billion annually.
Building truly carer-friendly communities requires action across society, including in our workplaces. It means creating environments where carers can continue to contribute their skills and talents without being forced to sacrifice their caring responsibilities or their careers.
At Carers UK, we believe that the case for a statutory right to paid Carer's Leave deserves serious consideration as part of this consultation. The introduction of unpaid Carer's Leave in April 2024 was an important and welcome first step. However, affordability remains a major barrier for many carers. Rights that cannot realistically be used by those who need them most will inevitably have limited impact.
As policymakers, officials and Ministers consider the next phase of reform, the consultation offers an opportunity to set out clearly what help carers need to remain and progress in work, and to recognise the enormous contribution carers make to society and the economy.
Whether you are a policymaker, employer, HR professional, researcher, employer-representative organisation, or someone with lived experience of balancing work and care, we encourage you to engage with the consultation and share your views.
Carers UK has developed a substantial body of evidence, analysis and briefing material to help inform the debate, and we hope these resources will support constructive discussion throughout the consultation process.
By working together to create workplaces that understand and support carers, we can build stronger, more inclusive and more resilient communities for everyone.
Find out more information and respond to the consultation here.
We’ll be sharing our briefing to help you respond to the consultation soon.
The consultation closes in 12 weeks on 1 September 2026.
For further information, please contact [email protected]
John Perryman, Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Work, Care and Equality) at Carers UK