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If you're juggling work with looking after someone, you're not alone - there are 5 million working carers in the UK. Managing work and care can be very challenging, so it’s important to find out about your rights and strike the right balance. 

 

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 and contractual rights as a working carer. 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. 

 

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

 

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Find out more about what life is like for people who are in employment and caring at home with our working carers briefing.

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