Carer Champions in the workplace help unpaid carers access vital support

• Almost three quarters (73%) of carer friendly employers surveyed have a carer champion in their workplace
• Around a third (35%) of employers have a carer champion who is currently caring
• Almost half (46%) of respondents have one carer champion in their workplace while a further 21% have two and 33% have three or more

Carer champions in the workplace are having a positive impact helping employees in their caring roles, something that was relatively unknown pre-pandemic.

A carer champion is an employee who acts as a key contact to support and help carers access information within organisation they work in, as well as externally.

They are helping workers with an unpaid caring role for an older, disabled or seriously ill relative or friend to identify themselves as carers, and find practical help and advice for their caring role.

They are also helping employers retain employees who otherwise may have resigned due to the demands of juggling work with their caring role.

A survey conducted by Carers UK with 70 Employers for Carers (EfC) member organisations identified further examples of good practice in promoting support for carers at work, including specifically to recognise the role of carer champions in raising awareness and visibility.

The research identified the top three types of valuable support promoted by carer champions:

• A carers network (73%)
• Health and well being scheme (70%)
• Carer's Leave (55%).

Evidence of the positive impact of the role of carer champions in the workplace comes following research released by the University of Sheffield and Carers UK last month showing 5,300 people in employment in the UK become unpaid carers every day.

SOURCE: Employers for Carers EFC (employersforcarers.org)