Support for Employers

A ‘working carer’ is someone who has caring responsibilities for a loved one or friend, and is working at their ‘day job’ at the same time.

1 in 7 of the UK workforce are working carers.

50% of the UK population will have caring responsibilities for a loved one before they reach retirement age.

600 people leave the UK workforce each day, as they struggle to balance their working and caring responsibilities.

Carers Leeds support Employers with advice, information, networking, guidance and training to identify, engage, support and retain working carers in the workforce. 

Supporting working carers in your organisation will: 

  • Reduce unplanned absences Reduce stress of working carers in your organisation. 
  • Reduce any risk of associated discrimination claims Increase wellbeing of working carers in your organisation. 
  • Increase retention of working carers in your organisation. 
  • Increase attraction of experienced talent to your organisation Increase engagement and productivity. 
  • Enhance your employer brand 

Carers Leeds Employers Forum

Carers Leeds facilitates an Employer Forum for organisations across Leeds 

We meet quarterly to share ideas and best practice round identifying, engaging, supporting and retaining working carers in the workplace.   

Our format is relaxed round-table style, we often have guest speakers and have a different agenda to discuss each session. We meet either in person in Leeds City Centre or via Teams. 

We share challenges and wins of supporting carers in the workplaces, as well national statistical data and updates or changes to legislation 

Our attendees mainly have a focus in HR, Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Wellness or Culture.  We also welcome those who manage employee networks for working carers. All welcome! 

Our focus is to:

Learn from employers in Leeds about how they support working carers within their organisation 

Share ideas and best practice, challenges and wins with other employers across the city. 

Our regular Employer Forum members include: 

BAM Construction | Channel 4 | Clarion Solicitors | Charity for Civil Servants | DWP
Leeds City Council | Leeds Beckett University | Leeds Hospital Teaching Trust
Ministry of Justice | Morrisons | Pharmacy2U | HMRC  | JCT600
Barca | Cafcass | Heritage Fund | Lowell Group |People in Action
Springfield Care | St Gemma’s Hospice | Yorkshire Building Society | Wrigley Solicitors | Zenith Motors 

Our next Carers Leeds Employer Forum:

Carers Leeds Employer Forum
Thursday 5th September 2024
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Simple ways to make ‘working carers’ visible in your organisation 

Have a clear definition of who a working carer is in your communications to staff.  

For example … 

“Any member of our company, irrespective of role or seniority, could have caring responsibilities as well as their ‘day job’ with us.  Being a carer means providing help and support to a parent, partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental health issues, substance misuse or disability. The caring role can happen gradually or overnight. 

Conduct a staff survey  

Questions could be ….  

‘Do you care for someone who would be unable to manage without your support?  

Do you support anyone on a regular basis who has a long-term illness or disability? 

How do you feel this impacts on you at work?  

How could we ensure you feel supported to work and juggle what’s going on outside of work?   

Have a clear definition of who a working carer is in your communications to staff.  

For example … 

“Any member of our company could have caring responsibilities for a loved one or friend, outside of their ‘day job’  (irrelevant of role, seniority or background. ) The caring role can develop over a period of time or happen overnight” 

Create a calendar of carers events 

Promote and celebrate caring responsibilities leading up to, and during significant dates in the Carers Calendar .. 

Carers Leave Bill – becomes law – 6th April 2024 

Carers Week – 10th-16th June 2024 

Carers Rights Day – 15th November 2024 

Invite Carers Leeds to talk about the working carer role and support available for working carers.  

Click here to arrange an initial discussion.

Apply for Carer Confident accreditation and promote this to your workforce. As an organisation raise the challenge of what do we need to do to move from Level 2 to Level 3, i.e always strive to be even better than we are now  

Encourage your Senior Team to share their own experiences of being a working carer. Directors, SMT, Heads of, and all senior staff to be open and talk about their own caring role and experiences. 

This could be on your intranet, staff newsletter, or in-person events 

Offer ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions to your Line Managers 

Carers Leeds can support these sessions to run in partnership with your HR/L&D Teams.   

Lunch & Learns to include information about organisational policies and procedures to support carers, how to open up a conversation about caring with the people you line manage etc.  

Click here to arrange an initial discussion.

Ensure your Mental Health first Aiders are equipped to have a conversation about caring responsibilities by completing Carers Leeds Carer Awareness training 

Click here to arrange an initial discussion.

Attend the Carers Leeds Employers Forum and learn how other employers identify, engage, support and retain working carers within their organisations.  Learn the latest national data figures around caring and latest legislation changes to inform and shape your policies and staff communications.  

Click here for an invitation.

Promote organisational policies that support carers and encourage open conversations in staff meetings. Ask working carers already in your organisation to contribute to highlight that support is available and send the message ‘its OK to talk about your caring role and seek support at work’  

  

Promote the wish to retain staff and work with them to benefit the organisation and the carer.   

  

Invite a Carer to share their experiences of being a working carer within your organisation with their colleagues – this could be at a staff meeting, away-day or network event  

Invite Carers Leeds to talk about the practicalities and realities of being a carer.  

This can help staff members to identify themselves as carers. 

Click here to arrange an initial discussion.

A specific network for employees with caring responsibilities consider this to be ‘stand alone’ and make a clear distinction between childcare and caring.  

Talk to Carers Leeds about how to set up and maintain an Employee Network Group for Carers.   

Click here to arrange an initial discussion.

Consider ownership of the network by a senior sponsor to gain gravitas and unblock any internal hurdles.  

Staff Handbook – Does your Staff/wellbeing booklet or intranet page that make references to caring and how you support working carers in your organisation?  

Carers Policy – Do you have a Carers Policy? Is it accessible? Click here for our template  

Carers Passport – Implementing a carer passport can help avoid the need for repetitive conversations with new line managers or encourage new line managers to take a proactive interest in someone’s caring role.  Click here for our template  

Onboarding – ask a question at your new employees Onboarding stage – Do you support anyone on a regular basis who has a long-term illness or disability? How can we support you?  

Employee Assistance Scheme – Promote your employee assistance scheme. It may offer essential free counselling sessions and support directly to your employee 

Posters – some people will always keep the extent of their caring private.  

Let colleagues know that Carers Leeds can help them even if they don’t want to disclose information at work.   

This could be via your intranet and/or posters in staff areas.  

Click here to request downloadable posters for your staff areas.