Final legislation has passed in Parliament sealing a groundbreaking new right for two million employees with unpaid caring responsibilities to take up to five days of Carer’s Leave. This depends on the amount of time you usually work over several days.

This means if you usually work three days a week - you can take three days of Carer's Leave. The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 ensures employment protections for these employees and sets out detailed procedures for requesting leave.

This page provides some key points to help employees that are carers and employers further understand the Carer's Leave Act. 

From 6 April 2024, employees with a dependant are now entitled to unpaid leave to give or arrange care.

They must have:

• A physical or mental illness or injury that means they’re expected to need care for more than 3 months
• A disability (as defined in the Equality Act 2010)
• Care needs because of old age

Employees are entitled to carer’s leave right from their first day of employment. The employee must give notice of a minimum of three days or at least twice the amount of notice as the period of leave.

The dependant doesn't need to be a family member and can be anyone who relies on them for care.

This creates a new right for two million employees with unpaid caring responsibilities.

Watch our short informative video on the Carer's Leave Act

Click here to watch >>>

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What does the Carer's Leave Act mean for employees?

A week's leave must now be granted to unpaid carers which is a huge step in recognising them and their caring responsibilities within the workplace. Instead of now having to use sick days or annual leave unpaid carers can now use this week period as unpaid leave. We hope this act can open up conversations and changes within the workplace to supporting unpaid carers further.
View our PDF for more information here >>>

How do you take your Carer's Leave?

Employees must give their employer notice before they want their leave date to start such as if the request is for half a day or a day, the notice period must be at least 3 days.

If the request is for more than one day then the notice period must be at least twice as long as the requested leave.

Employees do not need to provide evidence of their dependant’s care needs.

How many days of unpaid leave can you take as a carer?

Employees can take up to one week of leave every 12 months. A week is the amount of time you usually work over several days. This means if you usually work three days a week - you can take three days of carers leave.

This can either be taken as a whole week off or taken as individual days or half days throughout the year.

Can an employer delay Carer's Leave?

Employers are not able refuse your leave request as a carer but are able to ask that you take this at a different time. This is only possible if your absence can cause serious disruption to the company.

If your request is delayed then the employer must agree on another date within one month of your requested date.

Find out more information on the Carer's Leave Act from the Government Website >>>

What does the Carer's Leave Act mean for employers?

It's important for workplaces to prepare themselves for the Carer's Leave Act by ensuring that they understand which of their employees qualify for it and the process the employee must follow for taking their unpaid leave. Your employees should understand what support they are entitled to with up to date information and providing further and additional support will always be beneficial within your workforce. 
View our PDF for more information here >>>

Does your employee have to show proof for Carer's Leave? 

As an employer you are unable to request evidence in relation to your employees caring responsibilities or information on how your employee intends to spend their Carer's Leave. This is due to the handling of sensitive medical or personal data.

It is possible to encourage employees to talk openly about their caring responsibilities and this could be encouraged by providing extra support to them. Carer's Week takes place during June 2024 and could be a great opportunity to talk openly with your employees about the challengers and responsibilities they face in their caring roles. 

How much notice must your employee provide and can you refuse their request?

Your employee must give notice before they want their leave date to start such as if the request is for half a day or a day, the notice period must be at least 3 days. If the request is for more than one day then the notice period must be at least twice as long as the requested leave. As an employer you are able to remove this requirement for your employees if you wish. 

You are not able refuse Carer's Leave requests but are able to ask that they take this at a different time. This is only possible if the employees absence can cause serious disruption to the company's operations.

If you delay a request then you must agree on another date within one month of the employees requested date and provide written notice of the reasons behind the postponement.

Can you offer further benefits to your employees for Carer's Leave? 

The Carer's Leave legislation enables employees with unpaid caring responsibilities to take up to five days of unpaid leave but it is possible for employers to offer additional support on top of this. You could offer employees more than the statutory one week or choose to pay them during their leave. 

Many other UK organisations have chose to offer additional support for Carer's Leave as this can reduce sickness absence and increase overall wellbeing of your employees. 

Carers UK provide a Carer's Leave Act support package >>> for employers to purchase which includes a detailed implementation guide, online training session and the PowerPoint training slide deck.