Make Work Pay: employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children

We are seeking views on the employment rights available to people with unpaid caring responsibilities and to parents who have a seriously ill child. This is an issue that touches the daily lives and futures of families, workers and employers alike. Our aim is to understand how current protections work in practice, where gaps may exist, and how policy or guidance could better support those navigating the emotional and practical challenges of caring for a loved one while maintaining work responsibilities.

Why this matters
Unpaid carers form a vital part of our social fabric. Caring for a seriously ill child or an adult family member can require substantial, often unpredictable, time and emotional energy. Balancing these needs with job roles can be difficult, and the pressures can have profound effects on financial security, mental health, and career progression. Employment rights exist to provide a safety net and a framework within which employers and employees can plan around regular and exceptional caregiving needs. As circumstances evolve—whether through a child’s diagnosis, fluctuating health, or changes in care arrangements—it is essential that the rights and responsibilities attached to work remain fit for purpose.

What we’re seeking views on
– Clarity and accessibility of rights: Are the current statutory and contractual rights easy to understand and easy to access? Do employees know where to turn for advice and support?
– Existing protections: How effectively do rights such as flexible working, family leave, sickness absence, compassionate leave, and reasonable adjustments support unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children?
– Timing and scope: Do rights align with the realities of caregiving, including short-notice needs, long-term care, and intermittent illness? Are there scenarios where rights fall short, such as during school holidays, weekends, or remote working arrangements?
– Employer practices: How do organisations implement these rights in practice? Are dashboards, policies, training, and caregiver-inclusive cultures in place to enable employees to disclose needs without fear of stigma or repercussions?
– Financial considerations: How do earnings, benefits, and job security interplay with caregiving duties? Are current protections adequate to prevent financial distress for carers who must reduce hours or take leave?
– Equality and inclusion: Do caregiving responsibilities intersect with other protected characteristics in ways that affect access to rights and opportunities at work? What steps could improve equity?
– Access to advice and support: Is there sufficient guidance for carers and for line managers to navigate conversations, plan leave or flexible working, and manage transitions back to work?
– Policy gaps and potential improvements: Where do gaps exist in the current framework? What changes, either legislative or employer-led, could better support carers and parents of seriously ill children?

Potential areas for improvement
– Streamlined access: Simplified processes to request flexible working, reduced notice periods for certain changes, and clearer communications about entitlements.
– Flexible and blended arrangements: More robust options for hybrid working, phased returns after leave, condensed hours, job sharing, and temporary role adjustments during periods of high caregiving demand.
– Carer-forward planning: Guidance and tools for early conversations between employees and managers, including care plans, anticipated peak periods, and potential productivity supports.
– Protection during transitions: Stronger safeguards around job security and pay when taking leave or reducing hours, with clear redress mechanisms if carers feel unsupported.
– Wellbeing and mental health support: Access to employer-provided counselling, peer networks, and practical resources to manage the stress and complexity of caregiving.
– Training for managers: Education on compassionate leadership, confidentiality, and how to recognise and accommodate caregiving needs without stigma.
– Cross-border and sectoral consistency: Where applicable, alignment of rights and expectations across different sectors and jurisdictions to reduce confusion for employees who operate in multi-site or cross-border roles.

Call for evidence
We welcome views from employees who are currently caring for a loved one, parents navigating care for a seriously ill child, line managers, HR professionals, trade unions, employer bodies, lawyers, and advocacy groups. Please share:
– Real-world experiences of exercising or attempting to exercise rights.
– Examples of good practice and areas where policy or guidance could be clearer.
– Suggestions for how to improve the accessibility, fairness, and effectiveness of employment rights for carers and parents of seriously ill children.
– Any data or research that highlight the impact of caregiving on employment outcomes and financial stability.

How to participate
If you have experiences or insights to share, please submit your views through our consultation portal or respond to the consultation email provided on our official site. We will safeguard confidentiality and ensure feedback is considered in an inclusive, constructive manner. All contributions will be assessed for relevance, with summaries published to inform policy development.

What happens next
Your feedback will inform discussions among policymakers, employers, and representative organisations as we review current rights and consider revisions to guidance and, where appropriate, legislative proposals. Our goal is to create a practical, equitable framework that recognises the realities of unpaid caregiving and supports parents of seriously ill children, helping to protect livelihoods without compromising the care that loved ones rely on.

Thank you for taking the time to contribute. Your experiences and views can help shape a fairer, more supportive work environment for carers and families.

July 15, 2026 at 03:59PM
让工作有回报：无薪照护者及重病儿童父母的就业权利
我们正在征求对无薪照护责任人员以及有严重疾病儿童的父母所享有的就业权利的意见。

阅读更多中文内容： 为承担无薪照护责任者与重病儿童家庭成员的就业权利征求意见