The Government has today launched a consultation on new workplace protections for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, as part of the ongoing work to implement the Employment Rights Act.
The consultation, launched by the Minister for Employment Rights Kate Dearden, sets out several proposals that could significantly change the rights of those with caring responsibilities in the workplace. These include introducing paid carer's leave for the first time, a new "right to return" to work after a period of intensive caring - similar to existing maternity leave protections - and new guidance to help workers and employers better understand carers' workplace protections.
Currently, around three million unpaid carers balance work with caring responsibilities, with many forced to reduce their hours or leave the workforce entirely - at an estimated cost to the economy of £37 billion a year. The Government believes these proposals could help thousands return to work and support employers to attract and retain skilled staff.
The consultation is open to everyone with a vested interest, and we would strongly encourage you to respond and share your views. The consultation has been published here and will close on 1 September 2026.
You can also find the press release here for your reference, which sets out the full details of the consultation.
How you can help
We would be very grateful if you could share news of this consultation with your networks and membership, so that as many people as possible can contribute their views.
We would also welcome your support in amplifying our social media content on this announcement. You can find our posts at the following links:
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