• 44% of responding organisations have paid Carer’s Leave available
• More than a quarter (27%) of organisations with paid Carer’s Leave introduced this following the Carer’s Leave Act
• Over half (51%) have a specified dedicated Carer’s Leave policy

Following the Carer’s Leave Act, a new survey shows that many employers have gone above and beyond the statutory regulations to introduce paid Carer’s Leave.

Over 160 employers responded to a survey from Employers for Carers (EfC) who found that 44% of these workplaces offer between one to 10 days of paid Carer’s Leave, offering more than the legal right to five days of unpaid leave to provide or arrange care for a disabled, older or ill relative or friend.

Over a quarter (27%) of those with some form of paid Carer’s Leave introduced this for the 1st time after the Act became law on April 6th, 2024.

Just over half (51%) of employers responding to the survey now have a dedicated Carer’s Leave policy in place, compared to 23% before the Act was enforced, showing a clear shift in the way that organisations are presenting their leave provision to improve transparency and access for carers.

23% of organisations saw an increase in people joining carer networks in the workplace since the Act, suggesting this has led to increased awareness amongst employees.

Set up and run by Carers UK, Employers for Carers (EfC) is a membership forum championing and promoting effective workplace support for staff with caring responsibilities, representing over 230 organisations and around 2.9 million employees across the public, private and not for profit sectors.

Following the Carer’s Leave Act, over half (51%) of survey respondents are monitoring how many employees are carers and 65% are capturing data on how much Carer’s Leave is being used.

Whilst 88% said they had not experienced challenges with the implementation of the Act, the five days statutory leave is unpaid, and some said this makes it difficult to access for some of their employees.

Interestingly, 76% of organisations had not specifically raised awareness or provided training to managers about the Act, despite the important role managers play in providing support to employees. 67% were not monitoring the benefits Carer’s Leave can bring, from better staff retention to a reduction in recruitment spending.

Previous Carers UK research has found that 40% of unpaid carers providing high levels of care are giving up work to care, while 22% are reducing their working hours due to the stress of juggling work and care.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said: “Juggling work with caring responsibilities isn’t easy and without the right support, this can take its toll. The implementation of the Carer’s Leave Act was a vital step forward for millions of working carers, empowering them to ask for support in the workplace.

“It’s positive to see that the Act has inspired employers to make tangible changes for carers. A growing number have gone above and beyond, enhancing their leave to paid leave. As a charity, Carers UK is looking to the future and encouraging the Government to build on the Act by introducing a statutory right to paid Carer’s Leave.

“We’re proud of the success of our Employers for Carers membership forum and our Carer Confident Scheme, providing practical, ‘hands-on’ help to employers to support the carers in their workforce, and are passionate about sharing this knowledge to ensure that valuable staff are retained and remain in the workforce.”