• In addition, 3 in 10 UK workers (30%) say they may have to give up their existing job due to unsupportive employers if taking on caring responsibilities
• 18-34 years olds most in danger - 4.2 millionii say they are likely to have no option but to give up their jobs if they had to take on caring duties
• Phoenix CEO and Government's Business Champion for Older Workers, Andy Briggs, calls on Government to accelerate legislation to implement 5 days Carers Leave and for businesses that can, to offer these days as paid

4.7 million working carers say they may have to give up their jobs due to unsupportive employers if they needed to take on greater caring responsibilities than they already have, research from Phoenix Group today reveals. Three quarters (75%) of UK unpaid carers are currently employed and the pressure to balance work and caring responsibilities is high. Without the proper flexibility and support from their employers, working carers have limited options. Many (43%) would struggle to afford to give up work to care for a loved one. Some (19%) would try to go part time rather than give up work completely.

Overall, 3 in 10 UK workers believe they may have to give up their job due to unsupportive employers if they have to take on a new or greater caring role. When breaking this down further, research shows 4.2 million 18-34 year olds who are just starting out in their career, could face a halt to their working life as they are the most likely age group to feel they wouldn’t receive the flexibility and support they needed from their employer (33%).

While the Government is currently consulting on the introduction of working carer’s statutory rights which notably includes five days unpaid leave, Phoenix Group, a leading long term savings and retirement business, is calling for the new legislation to be brought forward and for employers who can, to offer the five days leave as paid without delay.

Andy Briggs, Chief Executive, Phoenix Group and Government Business Champion for Older Workers, comments:

“It is a deep concern that working carers feel so unsupported by employers that they may have to quit their jobs in the future. Regardless of the time spent working for a company, many workers believe they wouldn’t be able to juggle work and take on caring responsibilities given the lack of support available from businesses.

“The vast majority of employed carers want to remain in the workforce, but they need more flexibility and support to enable them to do so. In the current economic environment, it is a worry that people feel they may be forced to stop work and give up their income.

“During the pandemic we have all seen the important role that those who care for others play and we should not lose sight of that. In light of COVID-19 it is more important than ever that business leaders embrace greater flexibility around working hours and put solid support in place for employed carers. Introducing statutory carers leave will be a positive step towards helping those who struggle daily with the demands of choosing between financial stability and caring for loved ones. I urge the Government to accelerate legislation for 5 days annual Carers Leave and for those employers who can, to make it paid leave.”

Two in five (40%) UK workers state they would look for a more flexible working routine to enable them to keep earning as they are if they had to take on caring responsibilities, while just one in five (20%) would choose to give up their job to focus on caring full time. This shows there is a clear need for businesses to provide greater support to keep workers with caring responsibilities in the workforce.

Time is sacred to carers, with almost three in five (59%) saying they consider more flexible working hours a fair employee benefit, one that is supported by two thirds (65%) of people in the UK. This highlights the necessity for Government to bring forward legislation enforcing statutory carer’s leave, providing some of the flexibility working carers and people in the UK demand.

-Ends-

Twitter: Find Phoenix Group @PhoenixGroupUK

Enquiries

Leonie Garfield
Lansons
07530 626 212
leonieg@lansons.com

Rachel Esland
Phoenix Group
07892 705093
rachel.esland@thephoenixgroup.com

Notes to editors

Research carried out by Opinium between 15th – 18th May 2020

Andy Briggs is CEO of Phoenix Group and the Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers. He is also the Government Champion for the Ageing Society Grand Challenge, part of the modern Industrial Strategy. In these roles he represents business views to Government on ageing issues, building greater understanding of the barriers in order to overcome the challenges and promote the opportunities, with the ultimate aim of creating an economy that works for everyone, regardless of age.

The Government consultation on how to put Carer’s leave into practice can be viewed here

The proposed legislation in summary:

• A new entitlement to a week’s unpaid leave for carers, designed to support employees to balance work and care.
• At employers’ discretion to enhance the entitlement in length or offer pay.
• A person could take Carer’s Leave to care for: a spouse or civil partner; a child; a parent; a person who lives in the same household as the employee (other than as an employee, tenant, lodger or boarder); someone else who reasonably relies on the employee for care.
• Carer’s Leave is restricted to those caring for individuals with physical or mental health problems, disability or issues related to old age and where the care need is likely to last for a longer period of time such as six months or a year.
• Reasons for taking Carer’s Leave to include providing personal and private support, personal/medical care, helping with official or financial matters and making arrangements.
• Employees to in the first instance self-certify their eligibility for Carer’s Leave.
• An employee who takes time off for Carer’s Leave would have similar employment protections as those which apply to other kinds of leave.
• The consultation seeks to decide:
  • Which relationships should Carer’s Leave cover?
  • Which conditions on care are appropriate for Carer’s Leave?
  • What counts as a qualifying period to entitle Carer’s Leave?
  • What reasons count to take Carer’s Leave and whether childcare should be out of scope for Carer’s Leave?
  • Whether evidence is needed for employees to take Carer’s Leave?
  • Should the leave be taken as a block or individual days?
  • Is it appropriate to require employees to give notice and if so, what a reasonable notice period might look like?
  • What are the costs and benefits to employers of Carer’s Leave?

ⁱIn a nationally representative survey of 2,004 UK adults, 178 working carers said that they might at some point have no option but to give up their existing job to help care for a dependent or relative due to a lack of support and flexibility from their employer. 178 / 2004 * 52,673,000 (UK adult population) = 4,678,540 or 4.7 million.

ⁱⁱIn a nationally representative survey of 2,004 UK adults, 160 18-34 year olds said that they might at some point have no option but to give up their existing job to help care for a dependent or relative due to a lack of support and flexibility from their employer. 160 / 2004 * 52,673,000 (UK adult population) = 4,205,429 or 4.2 million.