Many carers are also employees.
They may begin the day helping somebody get dressed, preparing medication or arranging an appointment before travelling to work. They may answer urgent calls during a lunch break, use annual leave to manage a hospital visit or spend the evening completing tasks that could not be done earlier.
From the outside, colleagues may have no idea how much they are carrying.
Caring does not always follow a timetable
Caring responsibilities can be unpredictable.
An appointment may be rearranged. A health condition may worsen. A support worker may cancel. A parent may need help unexpectedly. A difficult night can make the working day harder before it has even begun.
A supportive workplace does not need to solve every problem. But flexibility and understanding can make an enormous difference.
Know your rights
Employees are entitled to take up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave during a 12-month period to provide or arrange care for somebody with a long-term care need.
Carers may also have the right to request flexible working. Some employers go further by offering paid carer’s leave, flexible hours or a carer passport that records agreed support.
It is worth checking your workplace policies rather than assuming no help is available.
Employers can retain valuable people
Carers bring patience, organisation, resilience and problem-solving skills to the workplace.
Supporting them is not an act of charity. It helps employers retain experienced and committed members of staff.
A carer-friendly workplace can begin with a few practical steps:
- make carer policies clear and easy to find;
- train managers to respond with understanding;
- offer flexibility where possible;
- avoid making carers repeatedly explain personal circumstances;
- create a culture where asking for support does not feel risky.
You can be a carer and a valued employee
Nobody should feel that caring responsibilities make them less committed or less capable.
The right support can allow carers to keep working, protect their financial security and retain a valuable part of their own identity.
Understanding changes lives.
Carers Week 2026 series: This article is part of our week-long exploration of how we can build more carer-friendly communities. Read our Welcome to Carers Week 2026 article and follow Caregivers Diary for the next instalment.