From 6th April 2024 employees with caring responsibilities are entitled to take up to a week of unpaid leave each year to look after someone who relies on them because they are ill, have an injury, are disabled or have care needs because of their age.
This applies to all employees who need to give or arrange care for a dependant who has:
A physical or mental illness or injury that means they need care for more than three months
A disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010
Care needs because of their old age.
How much carers leave can an employee take?
Employees can take up to one week of leave every 12 months. This is pro rata for part time employees. For example, if an employee usually works three days a week, then they can take three days of carer’s leave.
Carers Leave can be taken as a whole week off or as individual days or half days throughout the year.
If an employee needs to care for more than one person, they cannot take a week of carer’s leave for each dependant. Employees can use the week of leave on more than one dependant.
Employers should now update their policies ready for April.
Further details regarding carers leave can be found here.