Catch Up with Carer Positive this Week
This week the UK Government set out new proposals to make the right to request flexible working a day one entitlement for every employee in Britain. It will also introduce a day one right to one week’s unpaid leave for workers balancing a job with caring responsibilities.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
With our ageing population and people working for longer, millions of people in the UK are now juggling their job with caring for someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill – it is fast becoming one of the most pressing employment issues of our time.
It is an incredibly demanding balancing act and without support from employers can be too much to manage. Carers UK’s own research shows that pre-pandemic, every single day more than 600 people across the UK were giving up work to care for a loved one – with a devastating impact on their personal finances and at a huge cost to the wider UK economy. Businesses continue to lose some of their most skilled and experienced employees.
Giving employees with caring responsibilities a legal right to unpaid carer’s leave and the ability to request flexible working from day one of starting their job is an important step forward for UK workers and could make a difference to millions – enabling carers to support their relatives whilst staying in work, maintaining social connections and improving their financial stability.
Good quality care and support services are also a key condition for many people’s employment so it’s more important than ever that the Government’s white paper delivers the social care reform that families desperately need.
Carer Positive in The Scotsman
An article from our manager Sue appeared in the Scotsman this year to promote the Carer Positive Awards and highlight the importance of creating support for working carers as we come out of lockdown and adapt to the world of working in 2021. Catch up with the full article here.
Scotland Director of the Year Awards
The Institute of Directors (IoD) is the UK's leading voice for company directors, and campaign on a wide range of issues such as trade, skills, and corporate governance.
Many directors faced extraordinary situations during the pandemic that required bold, often difficult, decisions to ensure organisations withstood the challenges. In recognition of this, the IoD is inviting entries for the IoD Scotland Director of the Year Awards.
The awards span 12 categories, and the Scottish Government is delighted to sponsor the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category - Diversity and inclusion builds organisational success. Which directors are making demonstrable improvements resulting in their organisations becoming more equal, diverse and inclusive? Success inspires others – share your story and enter the Awards!
Colleagues are urged to nominate individuals and promote the awards before the deadline of 30th September.