{"id":22014,"date":"2020-06-11T08:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T07:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=22014"},"modified":"2020-06-11T15:06:41","modified_gmt":"2020-06-11T14:06:41","slug":"every-workplace-should-be-carer-friendly-it-doesnt-cost-a-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=22014","title":{"rendered":"‘Every workplace should be carer-friendly – it doesn’t cost a thing’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Yesterday for Carers’ Week this week, UniteLIVE explored the main issues unpaid carers face<\/a>, especially now in lockdown amid the pandemic. Today, in part two of our story, we find out how having a carers’ policy in your workpace can make a big difference.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unite rep Justin Morgan, who works as carpenter for a housing association in Wales, has become a big champion for carers \u00e2\u20ac\u201c despite not being one himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he is currently furloughed, before the lockdown he was in discussions with his employer Trivallis to implement a specific carer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bInitially I had a conversation with our HR department and they were keen on the idea,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he told UniteLIVE. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThey wanted to add it to our leave policy but I called for separate carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 policy. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got so many policies in our workplace that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s difficult to pinpoint them. If we had one specific policy, carers know exactly where to go.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin says many of Trivallis\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 policies \u00e2\u20ac\u201c from emergency paid leave to flexible working and a reduced-hours policy for those who cannot work a full 37 hour week \u00e2\u20ac\u201c are already carer-friendly. But a carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 policy that consolidates all of these sends a strong message that carers matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt give them the confidence to know that they can speak openly about their caring role to their employer; that they won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be passed up for promotions or seen as a problem,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bCentral to our push for a carers’ policy in our workplace is involving our members,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Justin added. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe plan to send out a survey to our members to find out how many carers we have and what their needs are \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and what they would personally like to see in a carer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s policy. There may be things that we haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t got covered at the moment so it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s vital to have carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 voices at the heart of any policy.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate Cubbage, head of external affairs at the Carers Trust Wales, explains why having a separate and specific carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 policy is so vital as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt just gives you a central point of information to be fair and consistent. It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to be delivered in ad-hoc way based on your manager\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s knowledge of your rights. It helpful to create an atmosphere that you can come to a conversation with shared expectations.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s more, a carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 policy in the workplace can help identify carers who don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t necessarily see themselves as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bLack of self-identification is so commonplace,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Kate notes. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd once we ask carers who are newly self-identified how long they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been caring for it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s often years and years before they realise it. Having a policy with the name on it can create a shared understanding. Carers might, for example, not need support at work but maybe they need it at home. Getting that support from their workplace can have a huge knock-on effect on their well-being.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caring about our carers in the workplace also has no price tag \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and brings with it immense benefits for businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bSupporting carers helps to improve well-being of your employees; a well-supported carer will have a higher attendance record and will contribute more to the workplace. There is a very clear case for having carer friendly workplaces.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unite regional women and equalities officer Jo Galazka agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the same as a child having a supportive teacher that can literally change the trajectory of their lives. Having a supportive workplace and boss really makes a difference. Allowing an employee to leave a few minutes early to attend a doctor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s appointment can mean the difference between that employee being forced to go on long-term sick because they can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take the stress anymore – or that same employee really succeeding in work. Carers have very unique skillsets that they can bring to really strengthen any workplace. Every workplace should be carer-friendly. It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t cost a thing.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate, Jo and Justin all felt that the pandemic and lockdown represents a pivotal moment that can bring carers and theirs needs squarely into the limelight so that they get the recognition and support they deserve. This is why the theme of Carer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Week this year is \u00e2\u20ac\u0098Making Caring Visible\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe pandemic has helped to raise awareness about the amazing things that carers do every day behind closed doors in their homes,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Kate noted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd I think that recognition is beginning to translate to an understanding of why it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so important to support carers in all aspects of their lives. Organisations like the Carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Trust Wales are working really hard to build on and maintain that momentum so that the gaps we were experiencing before the pandemic in support that was available – particularly respite care – are closed.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin added that carers play \u00e2\u20ac\u015babsolutely vital\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 roles in our society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s unfortunate that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s taken something like this pandemic for people to realise how important they are. There were carers a long time before this pandemic and there will be carers a long time after it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s over. They deserve so much more recognition and support and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be fighting for.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that he was proud to be part of a union like Unite that plays such a strong, campaigning role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been brilliant working with people like Jo who has been so proactive in organising seminars with the Carers Trust. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve really learned a lot. Sometimes as reps we get a host of other problems to deal with, mostly disciplinaries, and so many other vital issues can sometimes fall by the wayside. But Unite keeps carers on the agenda and really encourages us as reps to keep it on the agenda in our workplaces as well.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Week this week Jo has a message for all those carers who are struggling, especially now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI know what it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like to feel hopeless, when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re shouting out but no one else is listening. But Unite as the union and voice of carers will be with you no matter the circumstance. You are not alone and we will always stand with you no matter how difficult things get.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find out more about the Carers Trust and they work they do, on their website here<\/a>. Find out how you can take part in Carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Week here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Hajera Blagg<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday for Carers’ Week this week, UniteLIVE explored the main issues unpaid carers face, especially now in lockdown amid the pandemic. Today, in part two of our story, we find out how having a carers’ policy in your workpace can make a big difference. Unite rep Justin Morgan, who works as carpenter for a housing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22015,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[531,1295],"wps_subtitle":"Carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Week: UniteLive highlights how workplace carers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 policies can make a big difference","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22014"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22032,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions\/22032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}