Millions unaware of carers’ flexible working rights

A survey published this week has shown that millions of people are unaware that caring for a spouse or relative gives you the right to ask your employer to work flexibly.

The survey, carried out by ICM Research on behalf of the Government Equalities Office, revealed that the majority (82%) of adults aren’t aware that carers are legally entitled to ask their employer for flexible working arrangements. More than a third (35%) of people surveyed had caring responsibilities which could make them eligible to ask.

People also have very different views about what makes someone a carer. Just 13% thought it was doing things like popping to the shops to help out; 43% thought it was helping out with tasks for a couple of hours a day; and 30% thought that it was helping out for most of the day such as washing and cooking meals. In fact, everyone who cares for a spouse, relative, or someone who lives with them, whatever level of support they provide, has the right to ask their employer if they can work flexibly.

According to the Equalities Office, 91% of requests from parents and carers are now being accepted.

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, commented: “Over the next two decades the number of people over 85 is expected to double, and the care given to them by their families will be every bit as important as - if not more important than - the care provided by social services and health authorities.

“Family care is very important, with the ‘stay-at-home’ daughter who used to provide that care now a ‘going-out-to-work’ daughter.

“We do not want people to have to choose between their work or providing important family care, so the question of their ability to work and employers' ability to respond flexibly is a huge one for the future.”

The research shows that over a third of women (36%) and just under a third (28%) of men are currently carers, which if repeated across the country could mean that about 9 million women and 7 million men are carers.

The new data also suggests that the number of people ‘sandwiched’ between caring for older parents and children is on the rise: currently around one in a hundred people said they are in this role and the younger generation expects to have to do more caring in the future - a quarter of 18-24 year olds expect to be caring for both a child and a parent in the future, as do one in ten 25-34 year olds.

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said: "Millions of families are facing a care crunch, juggling the need to provide care for an older or disabled relative or friend, but at the same time remain in work for longer. Businesses need people to make the most of their skills and experience in the workplace, yet millions of people are at risk of having to leave their jobs because of caring responsibilities and a lack of support. Our work with Employers for Carers has shown that flexible working can help businesses with productivity, recruitment and retention. Flexible working can be a win:win solution for carers and employers, and in most cases is very easy to arrange and manage."