From 6 April 2024, employees in the UK will gain a new legal entitlement to take up to one week of unpaid leave per year to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. This new right reflects a growing recognition of the challenges faced by carers and aims to support them in balancing their work and caregiving responsibilities. Here’s what you need to know:
Who Is Eligible?
The new Carer’s Leave entitlement applies to all employees, regardless of how long they’ve been with their employer. This means that from the start of their employment, workers will have the right to take time off to care for a dependant, whether it’s a family member, partner, or someone living with them who relies on their care.
What Constitutes a Dependant with Long-Term Care Needs?
A dependant for the purposes of this leave is someone who has a long-term illness, injury, or disability that requires ongoing care. The leave is intended to help employees manage caregiving responsibilities that arise due to these long-term needs, whether it’s providing direct care or arranging professional support.
What Does the Leave Cover?
Carer’s Leave will allow employees to take up to one week of unpaid leave per year. This leave can be used flexibly to help manage caregiving responsibilities, offering much-needed support when balancing work and personal life becomes difficult.
This new entitlement is a major step forward for carers in the workforce, recognizing the crucial role they play and offering additional support to help them manage both their work and caregiving duties. Employers should prepare to accommodate this new right, ensuring that their teams are aware of the policy and understand how it can be used effectively from April 2024 onwards.