For Employers
Unpaid carers make up a significant part of today’s workforce, often with their unpaid caring responsibilities invisible. With millions balancing employment and caring responsibilities, understanding their needs is essential for retention, wellbeing, and productivity.
Unpaid carers are individuals who provide support to one or more people who live with long‑term illness, disability, mental health needs, or age‑related care needs. This support is given outside of any paid employment.
Carers in employment
- Nearly 3 million unpaid carers aged 16+ are in paid employment.
- 1 in 5 adults are balancing unpaid care with full or part-time work.
- 600 people a day leave work to care.
Workplace impact
- Among working carers:
- 35% have reduced working hours.
- 1 in 5 have taken a lower-paid or more junior role due to caring commitments.
- Carers are more likely to decline promotions or leave employment altogether.
Why Supporting Carers Is Good for Business
1. Improved retention
With 600 carers a day leaving work, employer flexibility can dramatically reduce staff turnover, keeping knowledgeable and experienced staff within your workforce.
2. Reduced absenteeism
Better support improves wellbeing, reducing stress‑related sickness absence.
3. Greater productivity
Carers who feel supported are more focused, engaged, and able to manage both roles effectively.
4. Enhanced employer reputation
Carer-friendly policies demonstrate organisational commitment to equity, inclusion, and social responsibility.
Employer Toolkit
Are you a Carer Aware employer?
We have developed a toolkit to help you to become a more Carer friendly employer. 1 in 5 of the UK workforce is supporting someone.
This toolkit helps you to recognise Carers in your workplace, consider flexible working arrangements and gives you information in terms of signposting carers to support at Gloucestershire Carers Hub.
The toolkit can help you to create a Carer policy and to consider how Carers are represented in your workplace. You might like to start a Carers group for instance.
Most importantly, the toolkit will help you consider how together we support employees who are Carers.