A charity for carers has welcomed new legislation due to come into force today which will give workers who are looking after a disabled or sick adult friend or relative the right to ask for flexible working.
Under the Work and Families Act, parents caring for a child under six-years-old, or 18-years-old if the child is disabled, can request flexible working.
That right will be extended to the estimated one in eight workers who care for an adult family member or friend.
Around 2.6 million carers stand to gain new rights in the workplace from today.
Welcoming the legislation, Carers UK chief executive, Imelda Redmond, said it was "another milestone in our campaign to secure a better deal for carers and a step forward for everyone in promoting a modern, flexible and multi-skilled workforce."
To prepare carers for the new law, Carers UK has produced a free booklet called "The Employees Guide to Work and Caring" with information on legal rights and requesting flexible working.
Alan Firmin, who is chair of the Carers Network at British Gas and has an 18-year-old son with Down's Syndrome, said it was vital for carers to have an understanding employer and flexibility in the workplace.
He said: "Without a doubt I would have found it much harder to continue to work for British Gas, particularly in the early years of my son's life when we were attending the hospital on a regular basis.
"The carer's policy within British Gas provided me with the lifeline that I needed to give my son the support he required, whilst maintaining my effectiveness at work.
"I have been able to maintain my role within the organisation and balance my carer responsibilities, so that both are achieved and neither suffers."
Carers UK has also produced a booklet for employers, with input from the Department of Trade and Industry, British Gas, Acas, the British Chambers of Commerce and Action for Carers and Employment.
The charity has set up a consultancy service for employers and has also created an online test that shows whether their working practices comply with the law.
Ms Redmond continued: "Each year over two million people become carers - some overnight, some more gradually. So each day sees a new population of carers in the workforce.
"Many businesses are already seeing the benefits of flexible work patterns for their employees in greater staff retention, higher skill levels and cost-efficiencies. Good flexible working arrangements need planning but they need not be difficult.
"The new rights to flexible working are a win-win opportunity for businesses and carers."
Source: Carers UK, 06/04/2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
