Landmark summit kick-starts action to help families juggle work and care

During Carers Week, employers and the government will commit to a new working group to deliver a ‘triple win’ for families, employers and the economy.

At a joint summit business leaders and government have pledged to take action together to support families to juggle work with caring for ill, frail, and disabled loved ones.

The summit, the first of its kind to focus on care and employment, was hosted by BT in partnership with Care Services Minister Paul Burstow MP and was attended by business leaders, care providers, care technology developers, local government representatives, and European labour market experts.

Evidence was seen both from Carers UK on the impact on families’ finances and career prospects of giving up work to care, and from employers, including BT, Sainsbury’s and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In addition to workplace stress, the business community is facing increasing costs in retraining and recruitment, since an estimated one million people are forced to leave their jobs because they are unable to find the support necessary to combine work with caring responsibilities.

Paul Burstow MP, Minister for Care Services, believes that the summit has ‘‘kick-started joint action between Government and the business community to work together on helping carers to juggle work and care.’’

He added: ‘‘Helping families to stay in work alongside caring not only helps carers’ careers and family finances but is crucial for our workforce and economy.’’

Caroline Waters OBE, Director of People and Policy for BT Group and Chair of Employers for Carers, claims that stimulating the care market can ‘‘deliver an economic triple win – better services for families, the infrastructure to help employers retain skilled staff and a real boost to economic growth.’’