Many unpaid family carers want to work. Not just for income, but because work brings purpose, routine, social contact and a sense of identity.
But a new report from Carers UK, the “Tipping Point”, shows that for many family carers, a moment comes when juggling paid work and caring simply becomes impossible.
What is the “tipping point”?
The “tipping point” is when the pressures of caring and employment build up over time, until the family carer feels they have no option but to reduce their hours, or give up work entirely. The Carers UK’s research, based on responses from over 10,500 carers across the UK, shows that this point is rarely caused by just one issue. Instead, it is a combination of stresses that gradually become overwhelming.
Why staying in work matters
The research highlights that work can be a lifeline for carers with Many family carers describing their employment as:
- a break from caring
- time for themselves (“me‑time”)
- a boost to confidence and wellbeing
- a way to stay connected socially
Around three‑quarters of working family carers said their job has a positive impact on their wellbeing. But at the same time, nearly half are considering cutting their hours or leaving work altogether because the strain is becoming too great.
What pushes carers to the tipping point?
The report identifies several common pressures that, when combined, push carers towards the tipping point.
1. Lack of support at work – Many carers struggle to stay in work when flexible working is refused, employers don’t have carer‑friendly policies or line managers are unsupportive or lack understanding. Nearly half of carers who gave up work said they didn’t feel comfortable talking to their manager about their caring role which highlights how important workplace culture is, not just the policies on paper.
2. Inadequate social care support – One of the biggest drivers of the tipping point is the lack of affordable, reliable social care. When care services are unavailable, inconsistent, or hard to access, family carers end up filling the gaps themselves, often around the clock. Over a third of carers who left work said better social care would have helped them stay in employment.
3. Health and exhaustion – Caring often affects a family carers’ mental and physical health, especially when they are constantly juggling responsibilities. Many carers reported:
- chronic stress and anxiety
- poor sleep
- attending work while unwell
- delaying their own medical care
It’s no surprise that when a family carers’ health declines, continuing to work becomes even harder.
4. Additional challenges for parent carers – Parent carers face particular pressures when:
- schools cannot meet SEND needs
- specialist childcare is unavailable
- children are frequently excluded or sent home
For many parent carers, repeated calls from school and long battles for support make paid work unmanageable, leading them to step away from employment entirely.
The impact of leaving work
Giving up paid employment does not just affect today’s income but has longer‑term consequences including:
- increased risk of poverty
- reduced pension savings
- worsening wellbeing and isolation
There are also wider impacts on employers and the economy. Government analysis estimates the cost of family carers leaving work to be £37 billion a year due to lost productivity and increased benefit spending.
What helps carers stay in work?
The good news is that the report clearly shows what works. Family Carers are far more likely to remain in employment when they have:
- flexible or hybrid working
- paid Carer’s Leave
- supportive, understanding managers
- carer passports or carers’ networks at work
- reliable social care and NHS support
Simple changes, like flexibility over hours or location are described by family carers as “lifesavers” that prevent them reaching the tipping point.
What needs to change?
Based on the report Carers UK is calling for coordinated action across employers, social care, the NHS, education, government policy
Key recommendations include:
- introducing statutory paid Carer’s Leave
- improving access to social care and respite
- better identification and support of carers in the NHS
- fairer financial support for carers
- stronger rights and protections for carers at work.
Why this matters
As our population ages and more people live with long‑term conditions, 3 in 5 of us will become family carers. Without better support, many will face the same impossible choice between earning a living and caring for someone they love.
Preventing carers from reaching the tipping point isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for carers’ wellbeing, family life, workplaces, and the wider economy.
What is happening in Suffolk
Suffolk Family Carers has worked with Suffolk County Council to develop Caring Companies, an exciting recognition scheme designed to celebrate and support organisations that champion family carers within their workforce with a view to eliminating the ‘tipping point’
Full details can be found on the Suffolk County Council website but the scheme is designed to keep the wealth of skills, resilience, and commitment brought by carers in the workplace.
If you are working, please let your employer know about caring companies, or if you are looking to get back into employment whilst continuing with your caring role look out for the caring company’s logo at perspective employers.
Tell us what you think
If you have any thoughts or comments on the finding of this report, or would like to know more about caring companies you can contact us on carersvoice@suffolkfamilycarers.org
