Supporting working carers

We recognise that many staff, in addition to their paid employment, have unpaid caring responsibilities for relatives, children and friends who need support due to illness, disability, frailty or addiction.

In the UK there are three million working carers - that's one in seven of the workforce. Juggling work and looking after someone can be difficult. We all need support from time to time, but it can be difficult to find the support you need as a carer while also working. Oxfordshire County Council is pleased to be a founding member of the Employers Supporting Working Carers initiative.

Carers

A carer is a person who spends unpaid time looking after or supporting a relative, child, partner, neighbour or friend who is frail, ill, has a physical or learning disability, mental health problems or addiction.

The Employers Supporting Working Carers logo

This logo will be available to employers wishing to show their commitment to providing additional support for those juggling work and caring responsibilities. The new logo denotes a commitment from the organisation to help maintain the employment of working carers wherever possible, through the operation of effective people management practices which offer the flexibility necessary to attract, recruit and retain employees with caring responsibilities.

Caring is something which affects us all, as three in five people will be a carer at some point in their lives. These responsibilities often cannot be planned – caring can happen over time, but it can also happen overnight.

For a more detailed business case see the Employers for Carers website, and for more information see our recent article placed in Horizons and Futures magazine (pdf format, 159 KB)

• Businesses that have already signed up (pdf format, 26 KB)

What the logo means

Organisations displaying this logo are working towards supporting carers in their workplaces. They have recognised the business case for seeking to help experienced and skilled staff continue in employment even when caring responsibilities become an issue or suddenly peak.

The three commitments given by employers displaying the symbol are:

1. commitment to explore carer-friendly working patterns to attract, recruit and retain working carers
2. to increase awareness of carer issues and the support available through effective links to carers centres
3. to create opportunities for working carers to contribute to continuous business improvement.

How employers start using the logo

To apply to use the logo please complete the registration form below.

What it means for managers

Managers who work for employers displaying this logo are required to be responsive to the needs of their staff with caring responsibilities. Service requirements need to be balanced with a reasonable approach to people management. Managers will fully consider any viable options to achieve continued employment.

What it means for employees

Carers who work for employers displaying this logo will be helped to achieve a good balance between work and caring responsibilities. This may involve the consideration of changes to working patterns or other reasonable adjustments which are consistent with the needs of the organisation.

Please note - Oxfordshire County Council do not inspect, regulate or endorse any employer using this logo but encourage its use to demonstrate support for working carers. In addition, Oxfordshire County Council is not responsible in any way for activities carried out by employers displaying the symbol.

Working for Oxfordshire County Council

For details of all our latest job vacancies see jobs with Oxfordshire County Council and for more about working for Oxfordshire County Council see Working for us.

Good practice

Examples of the kind of support and flexibility local businesses provide, large or small:

• Good practice quotes (pdf format, 15 KB)

Registration form