Employment and training for carers

Carers who are employed now have improved rights, but not everyone knows how the law can work to support them.

Employment is important for carers

for their well-being and sense of self-worth
for maintaining income
as a way of retaining social contact
combating isolation.

There are times when carers feel they can't do it all and might have to give up work.

However, employers do not want to lose experienced and valued staff, so it is in everyone's interests to try and find a way to make it work.

Flexible working

Flexible working can be a way of managing your work life balance and helping you maintain work and care. Most people who have been working for their employer for 26 consecutive weeks have a statutory right to request flexible working. If you do not have a statutory right, you can still ask for flexible work, but your employer is not obliged to consider it. Flexible working can include:

working part time hours
changing working hours to fit in with care arrangements
working your usual hours in fewer days
flexitime, which allows you to fit your working hours around agreed-upon core times
home working for part or all of the time

There is a formal process for requesting flexible work when it is a statutory right. Before asking for flexible working, think about what would work best for you and about the ways it would impact your ability to do your job. If you are unsure of what the proposed working pattern would be like, or your employer is reluctant, you could suggest a trial period to see how it goes. Your employer does not have to grant your request for flexible working, but they must consider it and give good reasons if they refuse it.

Time off for emergencies

You are entitled to take reasonable time off work to deal with unexpected problems or emergencies with close family members or other people who depend on you. This is sometimes called 'dependant leave'. It is not for things you knew about in advance, like a planned hospital appointment or taking the person you care for to a routine appointment.

You won't usually be paid (but check your contract of employment, as some employers may pay their employees in this situation).

Dealing with changes

Caring situations can often change, and this may mean talking to your employer about what is happening. Carers Trust has a section to help carers dealing with change

I want to keep working but can't carry on juggling work and caring

If you would like to stay at work but it is not possible without something changing, talk to your employer, as you have statutory rights and may have additional contractual rights. Look at your contract of employment, your staff handbook, and any policies to see what they say about carers.

Getting help for the person you care for while you work

You could also think about getting more help for the person that you care for to allow you to remain at work. This could include getting help through the council, buying care privately, or getting some help from friends and family or a local charity. Think about what the person you care for wants and needs, and whether there are alternatives to you having to be there.

You could consider:

Homecare or day care and services Assistive technology or aids to help independence
Befriending services
Thinking of leaving work

There may come a time when you find that juggling work and caring is too much, and you are considering giving up work. Before making this decision it's important that you spend some time thinking about the implications and if it's the best option for you.

Giving up work may be a relief, but it can also be a detrimental move, so you may want to think about ways to remain at work. Leaving work will have implications for your finances and could impact how you feel about yourself.

What about finances if I leave work?

Leaving work or reducing your hours will have financial implications. There may be welfare benefits that you can claim, but entitlement depends on lots of other factors, so you may be left without a sustainable income. Before making a definite decision to leave work or cut your hours, it's best to get a benefit check done so you know what to expect. What effect will giving up work have on my state pension?

If you give up work to care for someone, you are probably not thinking about the effect of this on your state retirement pension, but it may impact the amount you get. To qualify for a state pension, you need to have enough qualifying years, which means you need to have either paid or been credited with enough national insurance contributions over the years. Some people who earn too little to pay national insurance or who are out of work and not claiming certain benefits may have gaps in their records.

With some benefits, like a carer allowance, your national insurance credits are paid automatically, which helps protect your pension record. If you are caring for at least 20 hours per week but don't qualify for carer allowance, you should apply for carer credit instead to protect your pension record.

You may be able to pay voluntary contributions to make up gaps in your record, but there are special rules for doing this.The government website gives you information, and you can check your national insurance record. You can also ask for a state pension forecast.

Going back to work

When your caring role ends or no longer takes up all of your time, you may think about going back to work. Carers who have been caring for a long time, often worry that they do not have the necessary experience or work skills that employers are looking for. Carers intending to work and continue caring may have concerns about it all fitting together.

Employers for Carers - EfC Digital

Plymouth City Council has recently renewed its membership of Employers for Carers; we have an EfC Umbrella Plus Membership.

This is the UK's leading resource for organisations looking to support working carers. This platform provides a range of online practical resources, tools, and e-learning to help employers support their carers in the workforce.

Our membership means we can offer resources to SMEs and organisations with 250 or fewer employees, which would include state schools, VCSE organisations, and libraries.

You will need to create an account by visiting efcdigital.org and selecting 'create new account'.

Local SMEs within Plymouth can access relevant resources registering via the EFC Digital website using the code EFCG0204

Also included in our membership is The Digital Resource for Carers, a platform that provides you as carers with information, support, and advice.

The platform includes free access to the Jointly App, which helps make caring easier and less stressful. Keep organised and on top of things, and communicate with everyone in your joint circle at the touch of a button.

Carers can register via the Carers Digital website using the code DRCA0204