New research by Carers UK, supported by TSB Bank, found that 56 percent of working carers are unable to afford time off without pay, keeping them from utilising their statutory right to unpaid Carer’s Leave.
The research, released for Carers Rights Day, emphasises the growing strain on unpaid carers in the UK, who now provide care valued at £184.3 billion annually – a sharp increase of £64.9 billion since 2011.
In the face of rising living costs, unpaid carers are struggling with the additional financial burdens associated with their roles. Many are left with no choice but to remain in employment to meet these costs. Carers UK reports that, on average, 600 people leave work daily to fulfil caregiving responsibilities.
Majority of Carers Call for Paid Leave
The survey revealed that 78 percent of carers believe access to paid leave would enable them to better balance work with caregiving. However, only 18 percent of carers said their employers currently offer paid leave provisions. Young carers aged 18 to 44 feel the financial strain more acutely than older carers aged 45 to 64. Younger carers were also more concerned about potential negative reactions from managers or colleagues when requesting unpaid Carer’s Leave.
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Ariam Enraght-Moony, Chief People Officer, TSB, said, “It’s clear that working carers should be better supported to fulfil their caring duties. The reality is far too many simply cannot afford to take unpaid carer’s leave.
“Having offered two weeks of paid Carer’s Leave a year to TSB colleagues for over four years, we have seen first-hand the positive impact it has on our colleagues and the lives of those they care for. We would encourage all big businesses to introduce this vital support.”
Only 42 percent of respondents indicating they understood the legislation and its implications. Meanwhile, 24 percent were only vaguely aware of the act, and 34 percent were entirely unfamiliar with it.
Calls for Reform
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said, “As the value of care provided by unpaid carers continues to grow at an incredible rate, we need to ensure they get the recognition and help they deserve.
“Many carers find it increasingly difficult to juggle work and care, particularly if they are not receiving sufficient support. Whilst the Carer’s Leave Act was a huge step forward, benefitting over 2 million employees, it’s important that all unpaid carers who want to remain in work are able to do so.”
Carers UK is urging the government to strengthen existing legislation within the Carer’s Leave Act by introducing a statutory right to paid Carer’s Leave as part of the Employment Rights Bill. The organisation is also encouraging employers to adopt the Carer’s Leave Act comprehensively, create carer-friendly workplaces, and go beyond the legal requirements by offering paid leave options.
“Introducing paid Carer’s Leave would particularly benefit those on low pay – as often they cannot afford to take unpaid leave from work – and women who provide the bulk of unpaid care and are more likely to be disadvantaged by this,” Walker added.
The Economic Value of Unpaid Care
Leading the research, Professor Matt Bennett, Centre for Care at the University of Birmingham said, “Our research shows the growing economic value of unpaid care across the four nations of the UK, which has reached an astonishing £184.3 billion. To put this into perspective, the combined NHS budget across the four nations of the UK in 2021/2022 was £189 billion – so carers are providing the value of care equivalent to a second NHS. The value of unpaid care was also approximately four times higher than the expenditure on adult social services across the four nations of the UK.
“The economic contribution made by unpaid carers has increased by 29.3% in the last decade and paints a stark picture of the savings they make to health care budgets. Without unpaid carers, our health and social care systems would collapse. People are providing more hours of unpaid care than ever before, and the contributions made by unpaid carers have increased across all localities in the UK. We hope policy makers see the urgent need to act to support unpaid carers.”
