Carers get a week off work, but they won’t be paid

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has responded to a consultation on carer’s leave, confirming that it will give workers with caring duties a new right to take additional time off work.

Carer’s leave will be a day one right and will provide workers providing unpaid care to dependents – around five million people – with one week of unpaid leave per year.

In order to take this time out, workers will need to give their employer notice equalling twice the length of the time they wish to take off, plus one day.

The TUC dismissed the government’s proposals as “a luxury for those that can afford it”.

“A statutory right to carer’s leave is long overdue. But for carer’s leave to play a genuine role, it is vital that it is paid,” France O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, said.

The TUC called for 10 days’ paid leave for all carers from day one on the job.