When I met Alison (pictured) she was at her wits end. She was looking after her mum who has Parkinson's Disease as well as trying to hold down a demanding job. She told me that her lunch breaks were spent trying to arrange medical appointments and services for her mum as after work the GP was shut. She spent her annual leave taking mum to hospital and clinic appointments which meant she hardly ever got a day off, let alone a holiday.
The new right to Carers Leave is to help people like Alison. Employees who are looking after a family member, partner or friend with a disability or long-term illness can now take Carers Leave (in half or full days) to ease the pressure and stress as they juggle working and caring. A member of your team may be looking after an elderly parent who is frail, a partner with an illness such as cancer, MND or Depression, or a disabled child. Trying to care for someone, and stay in work can sometimes feel almost impossible. But as an employer, you can ease their load - and retain a skilled and valued member of your team.
Caring Together Charity has free support available to Cambridgeshire employers. There is a short film and a factsheet about the Carers Leave Act (which is now law). Just pop along to our website for these.
