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.
Note: 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
Press Release
Press Release
Carers UK responds to King’s Fund report on the ‘no man’s land’ between health and social care
02 June 26
News
BBC Radio Scotland – Caring Matters Week live roadshow
29 May 26
The Carers Scotland team were delighted to take part in BBC Radio's Caring Matters Week in Scotland.
Press Release
Unpaid carers identified and highlighted in Pensions Commission interim report
21 May 26
The report identifies that unpaid carer face "heightened risks of undersaving for retirement" as providing care often "reduces or interrupts paid employment, limits opportunities for progression, and restricts access to workplace pensions."
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