How can employers prepare for the Carer’s Leave Act?

The Carer’s Leave Bill is due to be enacted as early as April 2024. It will give nearly 2.4 million workers in the UK who qualify as carers, a week’s unpaid leave per year - recognising the need for those workers with caring responsibilities for greater flexibility to provide care for family members or dependents.

Here are 5 ways in which your business can start to prepare:

1. Ensure management training is sufficient –Train managers to ensure internal procedures are in place so requests for carers leave are responded to appropriately and managers are equipped with the necessary personable skills to deal with these requests professionally and humanly.

2. Communicate throughout the organisation – Ensure all employees know about the new legislation through internal channels such as handbooks and company announcements. Workshops or webinars could be held so employees know what they are entitled to and how the Act will affect them.

3. Review benefits and support – Make this an opportunity to review existing schemes and ensure benefits are still relevant for the current workforce including carers. Speak to your employees to see if other benefits schemes would be more suitable. Highlight all areas of support that carers may also find useful such as flexible working, other types of leave and if you have a health and wellbeing scheme or support groups that they might find helpful.

We would like to say thank you to the Thrive at Work team, especially Elise Sandwell, for all their support’.”

This fully funded, accredited programme within the Coventry area has been created to offer help and guidance, to implement changes, improving health and wellbeing in the workplace.

For more information about Thrive at Work please contact thrive@coventry.gov.uk www.coventry.gov.uk/thrive

4. Update policies and procedures – Ensure employee handbooks are up to date and prepare to include Carers Leave, stating who qualifies and how to apply. Creating a self-certification form for employees could provide useful which states that they meet the legal definition of a carer and that they are using this particular type of leave.

5. Educate your workforce – Ensure employees are aware of the leave and if they qualify as a carer as many may not see themselves in this way. Make sure you deploy an open culture where carers leave can be openly discussed, and employees know who to approach if they have any questions. Support carers week to raise awareness throughout the organisation and ensure information on carers rights, is easily accessible.

If you need help updating your Employee Handbooks or need any other HR advice, please visit our website www.ahrconsultants.co.uk

MPG Continue Sponsorship for 23/24

Coventry Rugby is delighted to announce that our sponsorship with MPG will be continuing into the 2023/24 season.

MPG UK are a local business, based in Coventry, that sell and repair electrical motors, pumps, gearboxes and fan units. They are trusted by businesses both locally and nationally to keep important machinery running after breakdown or damage, repairing or replacing parts in “double-quick time”.

Managing Director of MPG UK, Steve Phillips: “As a local Coventry company, we are delighted to continue our corporate sponsorship with Coventry Rugby Club in their 150thAnniversary year, we are proud to be a partner with Coventry Rugby Club with a team that shares our common values within the local community. In addition to this we are the Sponsor of one of the clubs’ latest signings Ryan Hutler who was a prolific try scorer in the Championship last season.“

Matt Cannon, General Manager of Coventry Rugby, said “This is Steve’s and MPG UK Ltd second Season as Official Sleeve Sponsor as well as regular guest in the Formation Media Marquee. It has been a pleasure working with him and entertaining the company on match days. MPG UK Ltd are leading the way in his industry and we are thrilled that he has continued to work with Coventry Rugby for Season 2023/24.”

Steve will be a regular member in the Formation Media Platinum Marquee for Hospitality for the upcoming season, and MPG UK will feature on the sleeve of both shirts, as well as around Butts Park on a range of pitch-side advertising.

Anyone wishing to contact MPG UK can visit their website https://mpguk.co.uk/ or email sales@mpguk.co.uk