The annual Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Simplyhealth Absence Management survey shows that too many employers rely on an ad hoc approach to support for workers with caring responsibilities. Most have no policy at all.
More than one in three employers report that absence levels have increased because their staff are struggling to cope with their caring responsibilities outside of work but the CIPD report shows that just one in six organisations have policies in place to help staff achieve a better balance between their home and working lives.
Of those that have policies in place the most common types of support offered are:
- Flexible working arrangements are by far the most common type of support (68%)
- Compassionate leave (53%)
- Paid or unpaid carers’ leave (48%).
- Counselling services (42%)
- Career breaks and sabbaticals (33%).
- Access to financial services (17%)
- Options to purchase additional annual leave days (15%).
Although only one in six employers say they have organisation wide policies or guidelines in place for carers, an additional two fifths report that they do offer support to individuals on an ad hoc basis.
The CIPD is now calling on more businesses to adopt a formal policy to support workers, and ultimately benefit business.
You can find out more and view the report at http://www.cipd.co.uk/pressoffice/press-releases/cipd-absence-management-061014.aspx
Note: The European Court of Justice forbids discrimination against an employer who is caring foe someone who is disabled. See Coleman v Attridge Law & Stephen Law