Combining Work and Care?

Combining work and care?

Know your rights.

One in nine employees combine work with looking after older, ill or disabled loved ones.

Without the right support and advice, this juggling act can take its toll both at work and at home, leaving carers stressed and exhausted.

This Carers’ Rights Day we’re drawing attention to the help that’s out there for carers – from rights and entitlements to support and advice. We’d like every carer to get the help they need so they can look after their loved ones as well as looking after their own physical and mental health

RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS

Right to request flexible working

You have the right to request flexible working if you are an employee with 26 weeks continuous employment at the time you make an application. You have the right not to be badly treated, treated less favourably or dismissed because you have made the request.

carersuk.org/help-and-advice/work-and-career/your-right-to-flexible-working

Protection from discrimination

If you are looking after someone who is elderly or disabled, the law – under the Equality Act 2010 – will protect you against direct discrimination or harrassment because of your caring responsibilities. This is because you are counted as being 'associated' with someone who is protected by the law because of their age or disability.

Direct discrimination is where you are treated less favourably than someone else because you are caring for an elderly or disabled person.

carersuk.org/help-and-advice/work-and-career/other-rights-at-work#sec2

Time off in emergencies

Also known as time off for dependants, the Employment Rights Act 1996 (in Northern Ireland The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) gives all employees the right to take a 'reasonable' amount of time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant. Whether the time off is paid or not is at the discretion of the employer.

A dependant includes your husband, wife or partner, child or parent, or someone living with you as part of your family. Others who rely on you for help in an emergency may also qualify.

The situations where leave might be taken are:

a disruption or breakdown in care arrangements
to deal with the death of a dependant
if a dependant falls ill, has been assaulted or in an accident
to make longer term arrangements for a dependant who is ill or injured (but not to provide long term care yourself).
to deal with an incident involving a child during school hours

carersuk.org/help-and-advice/work-and-career/other-rights-at-work#sec0

To read more about rights and entitlements at work, visit:

carersuk.org/help-and-advice/work-and-career

HELP AND SUPPORT

At Carers UK, we can give you expert advice and information about all aspects of caring. We know how hard it can be to work out what support is available. Our website will help guide you through, and we’re here if you need to talk.

carersuk.org/help

Download our free Looking After Someone guide for an overview of the financial and practical support that could help you.

carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/carers-rights-guide

As well as giving you expert advice and information, we can connect you with other carers. When you join us, you become part of a community of carers – people who understand exactly what you’re going through and can share their experience with you.

carersuk.org/connect

With the right help and support, we can look after our loved ones and live our lives.

0808 808 7777 @CarersUK Carers UK