Marvin Onumonu47% of working careers are considering reducing hours or leaving their job due to a lack of support, according to data from Carers UK.
The research, supported by Standard Life, found that carers want to stay in work, but limited support from employers, rising caring duties and declining health push many to leave work and care full-time.
74% of carers in employment said work supports their wellbeing, giving them a break, boosting confidence and improving social contact.
Working age carers not in employment were more likely to report poor mental health and financial struggles than those in work.
35% of carers who left work said more affordable and accessible care services would have helped them stay in employment.
62% of current and former carers said they had little choice but to care due to lack of other options.
Carers UK found that a supportive workplace is key to preventing burnout.
71% of carers who gave up work said they felt stressed about caring duties at work, and 77% went to work when unwell.
48% of carers who left work said they did not feel comfortable speaking to their line manager about combining work and care, and 43% said their employer had no policies to support carers.
The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 gives employees five days of unpaid leave a year, but some carers cannot afford to take this.
60% said paid Carer’s Leave would reduce stress, and 45% said it would keep them in paid employment.
The Government is reviewing employment rights for carers, including the Carer’s Leave Act.
Carers UK is calling for five days of statutory paid Carer’s Leave.
Helen Walker, CEO at Carers UK, said: “Too many carers are being stretched to the limit trying to balance work and care.
“Given the impact of leaving work, and the fact that more of us will take on caring roles in the years ahead, supporting carers to stay in employment should be a priority for the government and society.
“This also carries wider economic implications, with the cost of carers leaving paid work estimated at £37 billion a year.”
Walker added: “These new figures show a critical link between social care support and carers’ ability to take on paid work.
“Social care should be recognised as a key requirement for carers to be able to work, just as childcare has been crucial in supporting parents – particularly women – to participate in the labour market.
“Alongside this, supportive workplace practices such as flexible working and carer-friendly policies are essential in helping carers balance work and caring responsibilities.”
Claire Hawkins, director of corporate affairs and brand for Standard Life and executive sponsor of the company’s carers network, said: “Without the right support in place, too many carers reach a point where reducing their hours or leaving employment altogether feels unavoidable, which can have a lasting detrimental impact on their pension adequacy and their income in retirement.
“Time out of the workforce directly reduces the ability to build up pension savings, increasing the risk that carers face poorer financial outcomes later in life.
“Supporting carers makes strong business sense.”
Hawkins added: “Flexible working and paid carer’s leave help employers retain experienced and valued staff, reduce absence and turnover, and support productivity as caring responsibilities become more common across the workforce.
“At Standard Life, we provide 10 days of paid carer’s leave alongside flexible working and other benefits designed to enable colleagues to work flexibly.
“We recognise that providing practical support enables people to remain in work rather than stepping away entirely.”
