Review of employment rights for unpaid carers

The government has launched a review ‘Employment rights for unpaid carers review: terms of reference’ that considers how those in employment are supported who are also providing unpaid care for family or others.

Key points of the review

The review follows the introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, which gave employees a right (effective from April 2024) to take unpaid leave to care for someone who is disabled, has a long-term illness, or needs care due to old age.

The review will examine how that leave entitlement is working in practice, that is, whether it is accessible, understood and being used.

It also aims to consider wider options, such as introducing paid carer’s leave, extending unpaid leave or introducing situational paid leave (for example to be used by parents of seriously ill children or for end-of-life care).

The government emphasises that any changes will seek to balance support for carers with the impact on employers, especially small businesses.

Timeline of the review

The review was launched in Autumn 2024 and is structured in three phases:

• Evidence gathering and stakeholder engagement (Autumn 2024 to Winter 2025/26).
• Options development and a formal public consultation (Winter 2025/26 to Autumn 2026).
• Final report, consultation response and roadmap for any changes (Autumn 2026 to Winter 2026/27).

A link to the latest guidance can be found here.

Conclusion

Caring for someone, whether a relative with long-term illness, an older parent, or a child with serious needs, while working is a balancing act many employees and families carry out every day. The government’s review demonstrates a recognition of that challenge and offers employers a chance to be proactive in supporting carers.

By creating an environment that understands, accommodates and values those with caring roles, employers not only support staff wellbeing but contribute to a fairer, more inclusive workplace and community.

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The carer’s leave section within the personnel section of our CEFMi website contains a model carer’s leave policy and related model letters. Get a free trial of CEFMi – a comprehensive resource for school managers containing over 7,000 pages of text, including over 170 policies written specifically for schools.