It is a year ago this month since around 2.6million carers in the UK were given the right, under the Work and Families Act 2006, to request flexible working - this is designed to help carers stay in work.
Unfortunately, a year on, many employees in the North West are still unaware of this Act. This is a crying shame - carers have a lot to offer in their jobs and they must be supported.
The alternative for them can be as drastic as having to give up their jobs altogether, often leading to poverty and isolation.
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The vast majority of carers are of working age and around 3million carers regularly combine work and care - this means than 1 in 7 people in the workforce is a carer.
With the Prime Minister soon to announce a new national strategy for carers in this particular area, it's time employees in the North West questioned whether their employers are doing enough to help them carry out their caring responsibilities, while also holding down paid employment.
Flexible working enables carers to change their working hours and conditions to better fit the realities of caring.
Furthermore, research with employers has shown that those who support carers in their workforce have lower staff turnover, reduced recruitment and retraining costs, improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.
Armed with this knowledge, its crucial that any carers reading this highlight the mutual benefits to their employers and gain the support they desperately need and deserve.
I am urging all carers reading this in the North West to visit www.carersuk.org or call the CarersLine on 0808 808 7777 for more information.
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