Ripple&Co’s Post

Working carers have been on my mind over recent years, but it's only since the pandemic that I've really started to look into this topic. Did you know that there are over 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland and 45% of them are in some form of employment. That is a lot of people who are juggling caring responsibilities with work and it's only going to increase over the coming years. The new legislation that has come in with the Carers Leave Act is a positive move towards providing some time off for working carers with 5 days of leave for caring, but it is unpaid so it doesn't help the financial impact. There is LOTS more that employers can do, starting with demonstrating awareness of the challenge with juggling caring and work responsibilities and creating a culture where Carers feel able to discuss their situation and any support needs with their manager.  Let's look out for our working unpaid carers. #workingcarers

Why Supporting Carers Benefits Everyone Did you know that 1 in 7 employees in the UK are also unpaid carers? Supporting these employees isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business move. 💼 Why it matters: ✅ Supported carers are more engaged and productive. ✅ They’re less likely to leave, saving you recruitment costs. ✅ A carer-friendly workplace attracts top talent and enhances your reputation. ✅ Simple initiatives like carer networks, flexible working, and manager training can make a huge difference. Let’s work together to create a workplace that truly supports carers. Message me to discuss! #careforcarers

📢 Supporting Working Carers: Carers Count Kirklees is Here to Help 📢  At Carers Count Kirklees, we understand that many employees don’t always recognise themselves as carers—even though some are dedicating up to 50 hours a week caring for loved ones while balancing a full-time job. In line with Carers UK's new campaign, This Counts as Care, we’re here to support employers in identifying and assisting their staff who are also unpaid carers. Through digital resources and workshops, we help businesses provide the support carers need to thrive at work while fulfilling their caregiving responsibilities. With 1 in 5 (22%) carers reporting unfair treatment in the workplace, and nearly a quarter struggling to meet work demands, it’s time to take action. Updating policies and offering flexible support can make a huge difference. 💼  Let's work together to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for working carers. 🙌  👉 Find out more about how we can help your organistion support working carers together. Contact on info@carerscount.org.uk or drop us a DM.  #CarersCountKirklees #WorkingCarers #ThisCountsAsCare #EmployerSupport #CarerRights #WorkplaceWellbeing #CaringAndWorking 

Less than a week to go until #carersweek kicks off! 'Putting carers on the map' is the theme for this year, where we want to make sure that the voices of unpaid carers are heard. It is essential that carers are recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, provided with information, and given the support they need to care safely. What are you doing as an employer to ensure that you are supporting carers? 1 in 7 people in the workforce are juggling work and care and so it is a population that cannot be ignored in the workplace. Pledge your support by getting involved in the celebrations: https://lnkd.in/eEBnSXEc Carers UK #unpaidcarers #carers #workingcarers

Did you know that families are providing more care than ever before? A new report published by Carers UK and Centre for Care shows that "unpaid carers in the UK are now providing care worth a staggering £184.3 billion a year". This highlights an urgent need for workforce policies that better support unpaid carers. Flexible work arrangements, robust employee benefits, and innovative solutions like homesharing can make a real difference in empowering carers to balance their responsibilities without compromising their well-being or careers. How is your organisation addressing the needs of employees who are also unpaid carers? Read more about the report here - https://lnkd.in/e3TggFje #UnpaidCarers #TwoGenerations #Homesharing #EmployeeBenefits

🌟 Supporting Carents at Work: A Win-Win for Employees and Employers 🌟 Did you know that 1 in 9 employees in the UK workforce is an informal carent, and this number is expected to rise from 6 million to 9 million in the next 30 years? Many carents face significant challenges balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, often leading to stress, reduced productivity, and even leaving the workforce altogether. The Cost of Losing Carents 🚨 Employers face skills shortages and higher recruitment costs when experienced carents leave. 💸 Replacing an employee can cost up to 50% of their annual salary for lower-skilled roles and up to 200% for higher-skilled roles. 📉 Absenteeism and reduced productivity also take a toll on business performance. The Business Case for Supporting Carents ✅ Flexible working arrangements and carent-friendly policies can: Reduce absenteeism and turnover. Improve employee well-being and productivity. Foster loyalty and enhance organisational culture. 📊 Real Impact: For every £1 invested in carent support, businesses can see a £5.60 return, thanks to cost savings on retention, reduced absenteeism, and increased engagement. At Carents, we are committed to giving carents a voice and helping employers understand how to better support their caregiving employees. If this topic resonates with you, join us in driving change. Let’s work together to make workplaces more inclusive and supportive for carers! #Carents #WorkplaceSupport #EmployeeWellbeing #Retention #InclusiveWorkplaces

This week is carers week. 15% of the population in the UK are working carers - so its highly likely that you either work with or know someone who is a working carer. Whilst there is no legal obligation to be a carer, people in this situation often feel a moral obligation to undertake the role and the associated responsibilities. Carers are people who are enormously compassionate, brilliant problem solvers, they have the ability to think on their feet, and are often decisive people who have had to learn how to make difficult decisions under pressure. They are also humans who have feelings, have a huge amount to contribute to their work places, but more often than not feel burnt out from constantly having to be alert and think ahead, and feel like they bring a substandard version of themselves to their work, and to the person that they care for. At work, legally their rights include; - The right not be discriminated against - The right to request flexible working - The right to time off to care for their dependant - From this April, they also have the right to one week of *unpaid* carers leave in the UK This is the absolute minimum - they also have the right to be trusted, respected and treated with care and compassion. And most of all they should have the right to feel safe to share their situation with their employer. Over 600 working carers resign every day in the UK because we don't value and respect the work that they do at home and at work. If you do one thing this week, please think about how you can make your working environment more carer friendly so that finally someone cares about the carers.

Having to choose between the needs of an employer and the needs of the person who requires care can lead to feeling pressured, overwhelmed, confused, frustrated or even guilty. The challenge of juggling these two opposing demands means someone may need to be particularly organised balancing work and care. Please get in touch to find out more on how we can help you to support staff before they reach burnout and need time off work.

It’s CARERS WEEK 2024. Well a lot of us still don’t recognise that’s what we are. It’s actually innate for some. When it’s a family member or dependent it’s almost like our duty and our everyday. Between that we hold down a life, a career and maybe the odd hour of ‘me time’. I would say that at times my actual career and place of work is ‘me time’. A lot of carers will resonate that when we go to our place of work we are not only doing that to make ends meet, but we’re doing it because it’s time for us. Spare a thought for all the carers you work with that then have another job when they leave their place of work. 11% of the UK workforce are carers - that’s one in nine! 59% of these are unpaid women. 600 carers a week have to leave their job to become unpaid carers. #CarersWeek #Carer #Women #Support #WorkingCarer

Employers don’t always see caring as a big issue, or don’t know of many carers in their workforce. Yet data from Carers UK and ONS shows that 1 in 4 UK employees has caring responsibilities. In this article Yurtle details why having a #carers policy can help to encourage them to come forward to get the support they need: https://lnkd.in/d6qFN7Wa