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HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING THOSE WHO CARE? AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SUPPORT UNPAID CARERS IN WORK With the amount of carers increasing, most recently due to the pandemic, Business Disability Forum addresses the issues behind the Government’s proposal for unpaid carers leave. FIGURES from a few years ago suggest that unpaid carers contribute around £132 billion per year to UK economy by supporting someone close to them – a partner, family member, friend, or neighbour. We have, however, experienced the outbreak of Covid since this figure was calculated and it is therefore likely to be greater now. As a result of the pandemic, disabled people have had their treatment, therapies, and surgeries cancelled or postponed. This has, in many cases, increased the severity of their condition at the same time as respite and day care centres closed their doors to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. It has been a ‘perfect
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storm’ for increasing the demands on some 13 million people who provide unpaid care in the UK today. Carers rights under the Equality Act 2010 remain limited. There was, however, some hope on the horizon when the Government released a consultation last year which aimed to provide more support for unpaid carers in work. However, what the consultation offered was, in one carer’s words, “a slap in the face”. The Government proposed that employers must offer five days unpaid leave per year which should be planned in advance.
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