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P.ublished 9th June 2026
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A Pivotal Moment - Carers UK Responds To Government Consultation On Workplace Rights For Unpaid Carers
Photo: www.kaboompics.com on Pexels
The Government’s consultation will explore a range of options to help unpaid carers remain in and return to work, including the introduction of a statutory right to paid Carer’s Leave.
Carers UK is encouraging individuals and employers to take part and share their experiences, to help shape future employment rights and workplace support for unpaid carers.
Every day, more than 600 people give up work to care for a family member or friend who is older, disabled or has a long-term health condition. Statistics published by DWP in March 2025 found that the cost to the economy of unpaid carers being out of work is £37 billion a year.
Helen Walker
The launch of this consultation is a pivotal moment in Carers UK’s longstanding campaign to secure the rights unpaid carers need to help them balance paid work with their caring responsibilities. With 2.8 million carers already in paid employment and thousands more taking on care each day, helping people to remain in work is both a social and economic priority.
Nearly half of working carers are considering reducing their working hours or leaving work altogether – often at considerable cost to their financial stability and long-term future – because current workplace structures and employment rights do not adequately reflect the realities of combining paid work with unpaid care.
Our research shows that 45% of carers would be more likely to remain in employment if they had paid Carer’s Leave in place. Whilst the introduction of unpaid Carer’s Leave was a positive step, many simply cannot afford this. Further statutory support would be a win-win situation for carers and employers, enabling them to retain valuable talent and strengthening businesses.
We welcome Minister for Employment Rights Kate Dearden’s leadership on launching this important consultation and her commitment to improving support for carers. We strongly encourage both carers and employers to submit their response.
Members of Carers UK’s 250-strong Employers for Carers forum are already leading the way in building carer friendly workplaces. Many of these employers already offer paid Carer’s Leave to their employees, providing vital flexibility in the workplace.