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Help for carers who work
Employees’ rights
As a carer you have the right to:
- request flexible working
- get time off for dependants
- unpaid parental leave
- paid annual leave
Working Families has information on statutory employment rights and guides to help carers back into work.
Read more on carers’ rights at work on Carers Scotland.
Flexible working
Many employers offer flexible working policies.
Having a supportive and flexible working environment can allow carers to focus on their career and caring responsibilities.
Flexible working can take different forms, including:
- job sharing
- working from home
- working part-time
- working shorter days
- working compressed hours (full-time hours but over fewer days)
- flexitime
- phased retirement
Read more on flexible working from:
Returning to work
You might not have worked in a while, or you recently stopped work because of your caring role.
At some point you may want to go back to work – for example, once your caring responsibilities end or when you can combine care with work.
It’s important to recognise the skills you’ve gained through caring, including:
- organisation
- time management
- communication
- attention to detail
- understanding and recognising peoples’ needs
Read more about returning to work on Carers Scotland.
My World of Work can give you information on career planning, getting a job and training.
Benefits and work
If you’re caring for someone, make sure you know which benefits you may be entitled to.
When you return to work, it’s important to find out about any changes to your benefits. If you’re ready to look for a job, benefits like Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) can help you.
Leaving work
You may feel you need to leave work to focus on your caring responsibilities.
Before you decide if you need to leave work, read about the implications of and alternatives to leaving work.
Further information
Contact your local carer centre to find out if there are any projects or support available to help make the transition to work.
The information was last updated on: 06th November 2023