Each week, an estimated 171,000 carers aged 16+ provide 35 hours or more of unpaid care to friends or family. Of these, many are still in paid work.
Many carers struggle to balance their work and caring responsibilities, others feel they have to choose between the two.
Employees do not have to tell their employer that they are a carer. However, where an employer is made aware of an employee with caring responsibilities, employers can take simple but effective action to enable carers to balance their caring and employment responsibilities.
There are several options for employers to consider how to support carers in the workplace. It is important to create a culture in which every employee understands that carers may be present within the organisation, and those who are caring feel able to talk about their responsibilities.
Carer Positive is a Scottish Government-funded award with 3 levels or stages. Organisations go through a self-assessment process and the Carer Positive status is awarded to employers who can provide evidence of best practice when supporting carers in the workplace.
For more information or to apply for the award visit www.carerpositive.org
We have a young carers webpage that has information, advice, resources, and learning that employers might find useful.
