How employers can help support Britain's ‘invisible army' of three million carers
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EACH week, around three million people clock off from their jobs and start a second, unpaid, role as a carer.
This unsung and often invisible army of helpers keeps the nation functioning, providing vital support to elderly or disabled family members and friends.
3
Rumana Akthair is an IT security apprentice for Virgin Media O2 and a carer
Credit: Supplied
Estimates vary but between seven to nine per cent of the workforce also have caring responsibilities, with charity Employers For Carers saying that 59 per cent of these are women.
Not-for-profit organisation Carers UK estimates that two-thirds of us will become a carer at some point in our lives, with up to 600 people a day quitting work to do this.
However, juggling such responsibilities with work is a huge challenge.
Studies show that 44 per cent of carers in employment have developed mental or physical health conditions, while a quarter have reduced their working hours in order to cope.
It is Carers Week, with employers being urged to identify carers within their workforce and put support in place to retain them.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: 'It takes two years on average for someone to identify themselves as a carer.
'As a result, they often don't come forward for support in the workplace and can miss out on vital help.
"This is why we encourage employers to raise awareness among managers and staff.'
This year's Carers Week theme is Caring About Equality, highlighting that those looking after family members or friends face a greater risk of poverty, social isolation and poor mental and physical health.
Helen added: 'One of the main drivers of poverty is the difficulty of combining paid work with unpaid care.
'We are urging more employers to go further in adopting more carer-friendly measures in the workplace and make a difference for those able to juggle work and care.'
One of the main ways employers can support staff is with flexible working.
Research from insurance agency the Phoenix Group found that two in five working carers would not have a job without flexible working.
Alongside this, an increasing number of firms are offering paid carer's leave.
While the Carer's Leave Act 2023 gives employees the right to five days of unpaid leave, Virgin Media O2 offers five paid days while the TSB gives 70 hours each year.
Rumana Akthair is an IT security apprentice for Virgin Media O2 and a carer.
She supports her dad who has mobility issues, a heart condition and diabetes, and also helps her mum, who is a carer herself and lives with arthritis.
Rumana, 35, from London, said: 'Co-ordinating medication, attending appointments and managing day-to-day care requires flexibility, often during working hours.
'However, my employer is incredibly supportive, and with the flexibility afforded, the impact on my work is limited.
'We need broader recognition that caring comes in many forms and can include supporting friends, neighbours and extended family.
'The level of understanding and support has made a real difference, not just to my professional growth, but to my overall wellbeing.'
Nisha Marwaha, a director at Virgin Media O2, said: 'Carers already have a lot on their plates and we want our people to be able to support friends and family without worrying about taking time off work or not getting paid.
'This support is vital to creating an environment where everyone can be their best at work and help their loved ones when they need them.'
Find out more at carersweek.org.
HOW TO BE A CARE CONFIDENT EMPLOYER
Encourage employees to identify themselves as carers. Include questions about caring in staff surveys or enable self-declaration through a self-service HR system or online form.
lAsk carers about their support needs, including what type of help they would like in the workplace.
lUse a clear definition of caring and carers – and include this in workplace policies to encourage take-up of support.
Introduce a carer policy in your company or organisation, outlining in one place all the support available.
Educate managers so they are equipped to identify and support carers in their team. Include caring in manager training and create a line-manager toolkit with guidance on what to do if an employee has caring responsibilities.
JOBSPOT
PARCEL delivery firm Evri is hiring for 5,000 new courier roles.
Find out more at evri.com/beacourier.
PATERNITY LEAVE IS A DAD JOKE
PATERNITY leave in the UK is the worst in Europe, according to campaign group The Dad Shift.
New fathers are entitled to a fortnight off at £187.18 a week, though many firms pay more.
3
Mike Shepard, management director, of the Britain's most family-friendly firm Mars UK
Credit: Supplied
Mars UK was recently recognised as our most family-friendly firm, offering dads 26 weeks off at 90 per cent of normal pay.
Ahead of Father's Day, Mars revenue management director Mike Shepard, dad to Sterling, four, and Conrad, seven months, shares his advice for firms to get it right.
EVOLVE WITH THE PARENTING JOURNEY: From navigating school commitments to becoming a grandparent, the parenting journey spans decades, so flexibility isn't a one-time fix, it's a continuous dialogue.
It's one thing having an enhanced parental leave policy, but leaders' active encouragement is key to removing any stigma.
CHAMPION MEANINGFUL LEAVE: Business leaders can lead where policy lags by introducing enhanced time off and normalising fathers to take it.
REDEFINE THE RETURN-TO-WORK EXPERIENCE: Coming back from parental leave isn't about 'slotting back in'. It's an emotional, mental and logistical adjustment.
Start conversations early about flexibility, priorities and working style, leading with what will best suit a family's new reality.
MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE AND WELLBEING: It's hard to support what you don't know, so encourage open dialogue.
Vital to the success of my own team's productivity is them feeling safe voicing what works for them, whether it's flexible hours, hybrid working or changes in responsibility.
USE PEER GROUPS TO DRIVE CHANGE: Internal parenting networks are powerful tools.
Foster these groups to build a community and spark ideas that can drive meaningful change from within.
LOVE ISLE IS A TITLE MYSTERY
LOVE ISLAND, hosted by Maya Jama, is back on our screens and it is not just the hot bods grabbing our attention – but also their day jobs, and what they mean.
Online searches for 'marketing engineer', 'payroll specialist' and 'energy broker' jumped more than 5,000 per cent last week, according to data from jobs forum RateMyApprenticeship.
3
The careers of Love Island contestants are leading to new job searches
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Co-founder Oliver Sidwell says: 'Seeing someone on screen talk about a job you've never heard of sparks curiosity, and that's what we're seeing now.
'Roles like marketing engineer or energy broker are not on the radar for most school leavers, but should be.
"These are well-paid, in-demand jobs and don't always require a university route.'
JOBSPOT
ASDA has more than 400 jobs available nationwide, including for section leaders, cleaners, pharmacy staff and customer delivery drivers.
Search at asda.jobs.
IT'S BEST TO ASK … AND FAST
JOB applicants should try to ask questions early in an interview to steer it in a direction that plays to their strengths.
That is the advice from Dr George Sik, of psychometric testing firm Eras, as the number of job vacancies in the UK plunged to its lowest level in four years with just 781,000 up for grabs.
As competition for positions intensifies, Dr Sik suggests good questions to put to your potential employer, which include, 'What are the most important goals for this role in the next six to 12 months?', 'What challenges or changes is the team currently navigating?' and, 'What makes someone exceptional in this role, as opposed to just good?'
He adds: 'These questions show initiative and let you reframe the interview.'
But leave it too long into the chat, and Dr Sik warns: 'By that point, it's too late to influence the direction of the conversation.'
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Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Husband fell down stairs - now my hair is falling out and I can't afford food'
A mum has revealed the emotional and financial toll of caring for her husband after he suffered a 'terrifying' brain injury, she's calling on the government to offer more support for carers A mum has revealed the heartbreaking toll of her husband's 'terrifying brain injury as she calls for the government to offer more support for carers. Children's services worker Sherene Snowdon, 42, lives in Gloucestershire with husband Lee, 46, a former gas engineer and plumber; son Jake, 19 ,and daughter Paige, seven. She cares for Lee, who sustained a brain injury five years ago, and for Paige, who has SEN. She says: "I became a carer overnight on 16 March 2020, when Lee sustained a brain injury after falling down some stairs. Seeing Lee on life support was absolutely terrifying. I was told to say my goodbyes. I was told he wouldn't be able to walk or talk, but Lee has proved everyone wrong. Lee had been home for just three weeks when he had a stroke. "It was very stressful. My hair was falling out, I was surviving on two hours' sleep, juggling a teething baby, a young son and my husband's needs. I was told nurses would come to our home, but we never saw them. I became the sole provider for my family. Things are very tough financially. I had to sell our two cars. "There were times when I didn't eat because I needed to prioritise food for my husband and kids. I'd look for the cheapest options – such as pot noodles that cost £1. I work full time because I have no choice, so don't get carers' allowance. And I only see my friends once a year. Caring has had a huge impact on my mental and physical health. Carers need realistic, practical support and help." Unpaid carers are 50% more likely to live in poverty than the rest of the population, according to shocking new figures. The charity Carers UK says unpaid carers save the government a staggering £184 billion a year, yet 1.2 million are in poverty - 400,000 of them in deep poverty - while Carers' Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind at £83.30 a week. With approximately 12,000 people in the UK becoming unpaid carers every day, 43% of current or former unpaid carers have either developed a mental or physical health problem, or seen an existing condition worsen. And 40% of our estimated 24.9 million current unpaid carers have cancelled their own medical appointment, because of their caring roles. Speaking at the start of National Carers' Week, which runs until June 15, Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, tells The Mirror: "Many carers feel unrecognised and at a disadvantage – facing a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health." Highlighting the difficulties of working, while caring and urging the government to provide greater recognition and financial assistance for carers, she continues: 'An estimated 600 people a day give up work to care." Andy McGowan, Policy and Practice Manager for Young Carers at the charity Carers Trust, says young carers, caring for 35 hours a week or more, are 86% less likely to obtain a degree and 46% less likely to enter employment than their peers. He says: "It's so vital to ensure they get academic, pastoral and financial support at university, so caring is not a barrier to them achieving their huge potential". Carers are being affected up and down the country by the lack of financial assistance. Kate Crockford , 40, lives in Swanley, Kent, with husband George, 39, an audit manager, and their children Xander, 13, and Rowan, 10, who has the genetic condition tublinopathy. The condition causes profound learning disabilities and complex needs including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism and global development delay. A wheelchair user, he is visually impaired and has challenging behaviour, while Xander is deaf and has autism, ADHD and anxiety. Kate says: "The physical issues George and I have experienced from caring include sciatica, pulled muscles, twisted ankles, black eyes and broken glasses - from being kicked in the face - bites, kicks, pinches, slaps. "In 2017, due to overwhelming caring responsibilities, I ignored having the flu, which then was compounded by fungal pneumonia. By the time I got to A&E, I was barely breathing and was in intensive care by that night, very close to death. "Then, in 2021, due to a biological heart quirk, bacteria from a bite Rowan gave me travelled to my brain and I developed a brain abscess. In A&E they thought I had a brain tumour and I was rushed to London for an emergency craniotomy. "It resulted in a stroke, which paralysed me down the left side entirely. I was in hospital for seven weeks. I had to learn to walk again. My husband was left with the boys for the whole summer. "I now make a proper effort to keep my appointments. But my smear test is three years overdue and I haven't been to the hairdresser since 2019! Caring for Rowan and Xander is a full-time role. The Government needs to stop targeting the vulnerable. Carers' allowance is an insult." Only child Rebecca Green, 23, from Liverpool, is a young carer for her mum Anne, 55, who has rheumatoid arthritis. Rebecca was in her second year at university when, in March 2023, Anne suddenly developed mobility problems. As her dad Phil died suddenly in 2017, she became Anne's sole carer. Rebecca says: 'It's almost the parent-child relationship in reverse. "Getting Mum a diagnosis was a lengthy process. It took a year to get medication, which she had an adverse reaction to. I was back and forth between university and Mum, constantly worried. 'I deferred two essays and the stress impacted my third year too. I didn't graduate on time. It's still up in the air if I'll graduate this year. 'I think the Government needs to recognise the different forms caring can take and include more support and validation. As a carer, the freedom to choose gets taken away. I worry, will I have a job I want? Will I be able to move out and have kids? I don't know.' Young carers needing support should visit to find support in your area. Full-time carer Nikki Knight, 39, lives in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, with husband Ollie, 41 a teacher, and their children Sophie, 12, and Toby, 7, who has ADHD and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2022. He is currently recovering from a bone marrow transplant in January. Former social worker Nikki, who quit work in September 2023 to care for him, says: 'I've been coming to terms with Toby's diagnosis while navigating all the appointments, paperwork and healthcare plans. 'I live in fight or flight mode. From the moment I get up to the moment I go to sleep I'm on the go. I often fall asleep on the sofa - too tired to get to bed. 'I've delayed my follow up clinic and physio appointments after a fall, to fit in around his needs. My dental and eye check ups are overdue. Toby is clinically vulnerable. Only my husband and I are trained in central line care for him. We get Disability Living Allowance, but going from a two-income family to just one was a shock.' Author of 5 minute gratitude journal for oncology parents, Nikki blogs about her experiences Author and blogger Sarah Ziegel, 64, lives in Richmond, south west London, with husband Jonathan, 62, a government lawyer, and their four autistic children – twins Benjamin and Thomas, 26; Hector, 23 and Marcus, 16. Since she began caring, she has had a breakdown and developed adrenal fatigue, causing low energy, insomnia and digestive problems. As a carer, you are just surviving to care for your loved ones. she said "Adrenal fatigue results from years of living on adrenaline." 'I asked the GP for counselling but only got one session." she said "It isn't possible for me to work. The real issue for parent carers is that there is no one to take over and carers' allowance is so low it is an insult." 'My sons all live at home, but you can't claim housing or living costs for a child over 18. New Zealand pays family carers - why can't the UK?' *Sarah is author of Marching to a Different Beat about her family's autism journey. Self-employed ADHD coach Ana Bonasera, 33, from Oxford, is married to Jordan Hands, 31, and has five children. Four have SEN, or are awaiting diagnosis. Nathaniel, 12, is awaiting an autism and ADHD assessment; twins Jude and Luca, 11, have autism and learning disabilities; Spencer, 7, is awaiting an autism and ADHD assessment Daughter Mila, two, does not have special needs. Ana says: 'Being a parent-carer has definitely impacted my mental and physical health. Once, I was so overwhelmed I ran out in the street in my nightdress with no shoes on, desperately calling my dad. 'It's difficult asking for help – it took me seven attempts to call my doctor's surgery, but they couldn't help if I didn't want medication. Soon afterwards, I had a breakdown. It was the worst state I'd ever been in. 'I realisedI needed to help myself before I could help my kids. I had some hypnotherapy, some coaching and did lots of research to work out what triggers me. It's very hard juggling work with caring responsibilities. I can't work over the summer holidays, because of lack of provision for SEN children. Having a social life is almost impossible. My husband and I hardly ever go out. Now an ADHD coach, I want to make sure other carers don't feel unworthy of help.' During carers week Ana is running a free annual event dedicated to parent carers' wellbeing. Former mental health trainer Emma Amoscato, 43, from Bedfordshire, who has a daughter Amalia, 9, and son James, 12, was a carer for her husband Carl, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2017 and died in September. She now cares for James, who has AuDHD. Emma says: ''Being a carer can be all consuming. My son is autistic. I home educate, as the school couldn't meet his needs. This impacts my ability to work. I feel the ongoing stress of caring in my muscles and gut. It has affected my periods and my sleep. 'Carl had cancer for seven years. For the last 18 months, it was too hard for me to work. Carers' allowance is minimal. The Government needs to respect carers and see us as contributing members of society.'
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Her son bit her - hours later she was fighting for life with bacteria in brain
A mum has revealed the true toll of her 'ovewhelming' caring responsibilities and has called out the government for its 'insulting' Carers' allowance A mum has called the government's Carers' allowance an "insult" as she reveals the true toll of her "overwhelming" caring responsibilities. Kate Crockford , 40, lives in Swanley, Kent, with husband George, 39, an audit manager, and their children Xander, 13, and Rowan, 10, who has the genetic condition tublinopathy. The condition causes profound learning disabilities and complex needs including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism and global development delay. A wheelchair user, he is visually impaired and has challenging behaviour, while Xander is deaf and has autism, ADHD and anxiety. Kate says: "The physical issues George and I have experienced from caring include sciatica, pulled muscles, twisted ankles, black eyes and broken glasses - from being kicked in the face - bites, kicks, pinches, slaps. "In 2017, due to overwhelming caring responsibilities, I ignored having the flu, which then was compounded by fungal pneumonia. By the time I got to A&E, I was barely breathing and was in intensive care by that night, very close to death. "Then, in 2021, due to a biological heart quirk, bacteria from a bite Rowan gave me travelled to my brain and I developed a brain abscess. In A&E they thought I had a brain tumour and I was rushed to London for an emergency craniotomy. "It resulted in a stroke, which paralysed me down the left side entirely. I was in hospital for seven weeks. I had to learn to walk again. My husband was left with the boys for the whole summer. "I now make a proper effort to keep my appointments. But my smear test is three years overdue and I haven't been to the hairdresser since 2019! Caring for Rowan and Xander is a full-time role. The Government needs to stop targeting the vulnerable. Carers' allowance is an insult." Unpaid carers are 50% more likely to live in poverty than the rest of the population, according to shocking new figures. The charity Carers UK says unpaid carers save the government a staggering £184 billion a year, yet 1.2 million are in poverty - 400,000 of them in deep poverty - while Carers' Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind at £83.30 a week. With approximately 12,000 people in the UK becoming unpaid carers every day, 43% of current or former unpaid carers have either developed a mental or physical health problem, or seen an existing condition worsen. And 40% of our estimated 24.9 million current unpaid carers have cancelled their own medical appointment, because of their caring roles. Speaking at the start of National Carers' Week, which runs until June 15, Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, tells The Mirror: "Many carers feel unrecognised and at a disadvantage – facing a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health." Highlighting the difficulties of working, while caring and urging the government to provide greater recognition and financial assistance for carers, she continues: 'An estimated 600 people a day give up work to care." Andy McGowan, Policy and Practice Manager for Young Carers at the charity Carers Trust, says young carers, caring for 35 hours a week or more, are 86% less likely to obtain a degree and 46% less likely to enter employment than their peers. He says: "It's so vital to ensure they get academic, pastoral and financial support at university, so caring is not a barrier to them achieving their huge potential". Carers are being affected up and down the country by the lack of financial assistance. Children's services worker Sherene Snowdon, 42, lives in Gloucestershire with husband Lee, 46, a former gas engineer and plumber; son Jake, 19 ,and daughter Paige, seven. She cares for Lee, who sustained a brain injury five years ago, and for Paige, who has SEN. She says: "I became a carer overnight on 16 March 2020, when Lee sustained a brain injury after falling down some stairs. Seeing Lee on life support was absolutely terrifying. I was told to say my goodbyes. I was told he wouldn't be able to walk or talk, but Lee has proved everyone wrong. Lee had been home for just three weeks when he had a stroke. 'It was very stressful. My hair was falling out, I was surviving on two hours' sleep, juggling a teething baby, a young son and my husband's needs. I was told nurses would come to our home, but we never saw them. I became the sole provider for my family. Things are very tough financially. I had to sell our two cars. 'There were times when I didn't eat because I needed to prioritise food for my husband and kids. I'd look for the cheapest options – such as pot noodles that cost £1. I work full time because I have no choice, so don't get carers' allowance. And I only see my friends once a year. Caring has had a huge impact on my mental and physical health. Carers need realistic, practical support and help." Only child Rebecca Green , 23, from Liverpool, is a young carer for her mum Anne, 55, who has rheumatoid arthritis. Rebecca was in her second year at university when, in March 2023, Anne suddenly developed mobility problems. As her dad Phil died suddenly in 2017, she became Anne's sole carer. Rebecca says: 'It's almost the parent-child relationship in reverse. :Getting Mum a diagnosis was a lengthy process. It took a year to get medication, which she had an adverse reaction to. I was back and forth between university and Mum, constantly worried. 'I deferred two essays and the stress impacted my third year too. I didn't graduate on time. It's still up in the air if I'll graduate this year. 'I think the Government needs to recognise the different forms caring can take and include more support and validation. As a carer, the freedom to choose gets taken away. I worry, will I have a job I want? Will I be able to move out and have kids? I don't know.' Young carers needing support should visit to find support in your area. Full-time carer Nikki Knight, 39, lives in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, with husband Ollie, 41 a teacher, and their children Sophie, 12, and Toby, 7, who has ADHD and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2022. He is currently recovering from a bone marrow transplant in January. Former social worker Nikki, who quit work in September 2023 to care for him, says: 'I've been coming to terms with Toby's diagnosis while navigating all the appointments, paperwork and healthcare plans. 'I live in fight or flight mode. From the moment I get up to the moment I go to sleep I'm on the go. I often fall asleep on the sofa - too tired to get to bed. 'I've delayed my follow up clinic and physio appointments after a fall, to fit in around his needs. My dental and eye check ups are overdue. Toby is clinically vulnerable. Only my husband and I are trained in central line care for him. We get Disability Living Allowance, but going from a two-income family to just one was a shock.' Author of 5 minute gratitude journal for oncology parents, Nikki blogs about her experiences Author and blogger Sarah Ziegel, 64, lives in Richmond, south west London, with husband Jonathan, 62, a government lawyer, and their four autistic children – twins Benjamin and Thomas, 26; Hector, 23 and Marcus, 16. Since she began caring, she has had a breakdown and developed adrenal fatigue, causing low energy, insomnia and digestive problems. As a carer, you are just surviving to care for your loved ones. she said "Adrenal fatigue results from years of living on adrenaline." 'I asked the GP for counselling but only got one session." she said "It isn't possible for me to work. The real issue for parent carers is that there is no one to take over and carers' allowance is so low it is an insult." 'My sons all live at home, but you can't claim housing or living costs for a child over 18. New Zealand pays family carers - why can't the UK?' *Sarah is author of Marching to a Different Beat about her family's autism journey. Self-employed ADHD coach Ana Bonasera, 33, from Oxford, is married to Jordan Hands, 31, and has five children. Four have SEN, or are awaiting diagnosis. Nathaniel, 12, is awaiting an autism and ADHD assessment; twins Jude and Luca, 11, have autism and learning disabilities; Spencer, 7, is awaiting an autism and ADHD assessment Daughter Mila, two, does not have special needs. Ana says: 'Being a parent-carer has definitely impacted my mental and physical health. Once, I was so overwhelmed I ran out in the street in my nightdress with no shoes on, desperately calling my dad. 'It's difficult asking for help – it took me seven attempts to call my doctor's surgery, but they couldn't help if I didn't want medication. Soon afterwards, I had a breakdown. It was the worst state I'd ever been in. 'I realisedI needed to help myself before I could help my kids. I had some hypnotherapy, some coaching and did lots of research to work out what triggers me. It's very hard juggling work with caring responsibilities. I can't work over the summer holidays, because of lack of provision for SEN children. Having a social life is almost impossible. My husband and I hardly ever go out. Now an ADHD coach, I want to make sure other carers don't feel unworthy of help.' During carers week Ana is running a free annual event dedicated to parent carers' wellbeing. Former mental health trainer Emma Amoscato, 43, from Bedfordshire, who has a daughter Amalia, 9, and son James, 12, was a carer for her husband Carl, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2017 and died in September. She now cares for James, who has AuDHD. Emma says: ''Being a carer can be all consuming. My son is autistic. I home educate, as the school couldn't meet his needs. This impacts my ability to work. I feel the ongoing stress of caring in my muscles and gut. It has affected my periods and my sleep. 'Carl had cancer for seven years. For the last 18 months, it was too hard for me to work. Carers' allowance is minimal. The Government needs to respect carers and see us as contributing members of society.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
How employers can help support Britain's ‘invisible army' of three million carers
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EACH week, around three million people clock off from their jobs and start a second, unpaid, role as a carer. This unsung and often invisible army of helpers keeps the nation functioning, providing vital support to elderly or disabled family members and friends. 3 Rumana Akthair is an IT security apprentice for Virgin Media O2 and a carer Credit: Supplied Estimates vary but between seven to nine per cent of the workforce also have caring responsibilities, with charity Employers For Carers saying that 59 per cent of these are women. Not-for-profit organisation Carers UK estimates that two-thirds of us will become a carer at some point in our lives, with up to 600 people a day quitting work to do this. However, juggling such responsibilities with work is a huge challenge. Studies show that 44 per cent of carers in employment have developed mental or physical health conditions, while a quarter have reduced their working hours in order to cope. It is Carers Week, with employers being urged to identify carers within their workforce and put support in place to retain them. Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: 'It takes two years on average for someone to identify themselves as a carer. 'As a result, they often don't come forward for support in the workplace and can miss out on vital help. "This is why we encourage employers to raise awareness among managers and staff.' This year's Carers Week theme is Caring About Equality, highlighting that those looking after family members or friends face a greater risk of poverty, social isolation and poor mental and physical health. Helen added: 'One of the main drivers of poverty is the difficulty of combining paid work with unpaid care. 'We are urging more employers to go further in adopting more carer-friendly measures in the workplace and make a difference for those able to juggle work and care.' One of the main ways employers can support staff is with flexible working. Research from insurance agency the Phoenix Group found that two in five working carers would not have a job without flexible working. Alongside this, an increasing number of firms are offering paid carer's leave. While the Carer's Leave Act 2023 gives employees the right to five days of unpaid leave, Virgin Media O2 offers five paid days while the TSB gives 70 hours each year. Rumana Akthair is an IT security apprentice for Virgin Media O2 and a carer. She supports her dad who has mobility issues, a heart condition and diabetes, and also helps her mum, who is a carer herself and lives with arthritis. Rumana, 35, from London, said: 'Co-ordinating medication, attending appointments and managing day-to-day care requires flexibility, often during working hours. 'However, my employer is incredibly supportive, and with the flexibility afforded, the impact on my work is limited. 'We need broader recognition that caring comes in many forms and can include supporting friends, neighbours and extended family. 'The level of understanding and support has made a real difference, not just to my professional growth, but to my overall wellbeing.' Nisha Marwaha, a director at Virgin Media O2, said: 'Carers already have a lot on their plates and we want our people to be able to support friends and family without worrying about taking time off work or not getting paid. 'This support is vital to creating an environment where everyone can be their best at work and help their loved ones when they need them.' Find out more at HOW TO BE A CARE CONFIDENT EMPLOYER Encourage employees to identify themselves as carers. Include questions about caring in staff surveys or enable self-declaration through a self-service HR system or online form. lAsk carers about their support needs, including what type of help they would like in the workplace. lUse a clear definition of caring and carers – and include this in workplace policies to encourage take-up of support. Introduce a carer policy in your company or organisation, outlining in one place all the support available. Educate managers so they are equipped to identify and support carers in their team. Include caring in manager training and create a line-manager toolkit with guidance on what to do if an employee has caring responsibilities. JOBSPOT PARCEL delivery firm Evri is hiring for 5,000 new courier roles. Find out more at PATERNITY LEAVE IS A DAD JOKE PATERNITY leave in the UK is the worst in Europe, according to campaign group The Dad Shift. New fathers are entitled to a fortnight off at £187.18 a week, though many firms pay more. 3 Mike Shepard, management director, of the Britain's most family-friendly firm Mars UK Credit: Supplied Mars UK was recently recognised as our most family-friendly firm, offering dads 26 weeks off at 90 per cent of normal pay. Ahead of Father's Day, Mars revenue management director Mike Shepard, dad to Sterling, four, and Conrad, seven months, shares his advice for firms to get it right. EVOLVE WITH THE PARENTING JOURNEY: From navigating school commitments to becoming a grandparent, the parenting journey spans decades, so flexibility isn't a one-time fix, it's a continuous dialogue. It's one thing having an enhanced parental leave policy, but leaders' active encouragement is key to removing any stigma. CHAMPION MEANINGFUL LEAVE: Business leaders can lead where policy lags by introducing enhanced time off and normalising fathers to take it. REDEFINE THE RETURN-TO-WORK EXPERIENCE: Coming back from parental leave isn't about 'slotting back in'. It's an emotional, mental and logistical adjustment. Start conversations early about flexibility, priorities and working style, leading with what will best suit a family's new reality. MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE AND WELLBEING: It's hard to support what you don't know, so encourage open dialogue. Vital to the success of my own team's productivity is them feeling safe voicing what works for them, whether it's flexible hours, hybrid working or changes in responsibility. USE PEER GROUPS TO DRIVE CHANGE: Internal parenting networks are powerful tools. Foster these groups to build a community and spark ideas that can drive meaningful change from within. LOVE ISLE IS A TITLE MYSTERY LOVE ISLAND, hosted by Maya Jama, is back on our screens and it is not just the hot bods grabbing our attention – but also their day jobs, and what they mean. Online searches for 'marketing engineer', 'payroll specialist' and 'energy broker' jumped more than 5,000 per cent last week, according to data from jobs forum RateMyApprenticeship. 3 The careers of Love Island contestants are leading to new job searches Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Co-founder Oliver Sidwell says: 'Seeing someone on screen talk about a job you've never heard of sparks curiosity, and that's what we're seeing now. 'Roles like marketing engineer or energy broker are not on the radar for most school leavers, but should be. "These are well-paid, in-demand jobs and don't always require a university route.' JOBSPOT ASDA has more than 400 jobs available nationwide, including for section leaders, cleaners, pharmacy staff and customer delivery drivers. Search at IT'S BEST TO ASK … AND FAST JOB applicants should try to ask questions early in an interview to steer it in a direction that plays to their strengths. That is the advice from Dr George Sik, of psychometric testing firm Eras, as the number of job vacancies in the UK plunged to its lowest level in four years with just 781,000 up for grabs. As competition for positions intensifies, Dr Sik suggests good questions to put to your potential employer, which include, 'What are the most important goals for this role in the next six to 12 months?', 'What challenges or changes is the team currently navigating?' and, 'What makes someone exceptional in this role, as opposed to just good?' He adds: 'These questions show initiative and let you reframe the interview.' But leave it too long into the chat, and Dr Sik warns: 'By that point, it's too late to influence the direction of the conversation.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
