Nearly half of unpaid carers who are also in work are considering reducing their hours or leaving employment altogether, according to a new report on the strain faced by employees balancing paid work with caring responsibilities.
The research, from Carers UK supported by Standard Life, suggests that while many carers want to remain in work a combination of increasing caring demands, limited workplace support and declining health is pushing some towards difficult decisions about their employment. Around 47% of working carers said they are thinking about cutting their hours or leaving their job completely.
At the same time, work is also described as an important source of stability. Most carers in employment, 74%, said being in work has a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. Many described work as providing respite from caring duties, alongside structure, social contact and a sense of confidence.
Employment, Health and Financial Pressures
The report shows that carers who are not in employment are more likely to experience poorer outcomes than those who remain in work. Around 46% of working age carers not in employment reported poor or very poor mental health compared with 35% of those in work. Financial strain was also higher, affecting 36% of those out of work compared with 19% of working carers.
Among those who had already left employment, better access to social care support was identified as the main factor that could have helped them stay in work. Carers also reported that a lack of coordinated support from the NHS increased stress and often resulted in them taking on greater levels of caring responsibility.
For those no longer in employment, 35% said more affordable, accessible or reliable social care services would have helped them remain in work. Previous research from Carers UK found that 62% of current and former carers felt they had little choice but to care due to a lack of alternative care options.
The impact of combining work and care was also reflected in workplace experiences. Among carers who had left work, 71% said they felt stressed about their caring responsibilities while at work and 77% reported going to work even when unwell.
Workplace Support, Policy Gaps and Calls for Paid Leave
The findings highlight the importance of workplace support in preventing burnout and supporting retention. Around 48% of carers who had left work said they did not feel comfortable speaking to their line manager about the challenges of balancing work and care. A further 43% said their employer did not have policies in place to support carers.
The introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 gives employees the right to five days of unpaid leave each year to care for someone with long term health needs. However, many carers said they cannot afford to take unpaid leave. Around 60% said paid Carer’s Leave would reduce their stress levels, while 45% said it would make them more likely to remain in paid employment.
Carers UK is calling for the government to introduce five days of statutory paid Carer’s Leave before the end of this Parliament as part of its ongoing review of employment rights for carers. Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said, that carers are stretched to the limit as they try to balance work and care.
“Given the impact of leaving work, and the fact that more of us will take on caring roles in the years ahead, supporting carers to stay in employment should be a priority for the government and society. This also carries wider economic implications, with the cost of carers leaving paid work estimated at £37 billion a year,” she said.
“Social care should be recognised as a key requirement for carers to be able to work, just as childcare has been crucial in supporting parents – particularly women – to participate in the labour market. Alongside this, supportive workplace practices such as flexible working and carer-friendly policies are essential in helping carers balance work and caring responsibilities.”