Working and Caring
Combining work with daily life can be difficult enough. But having to combine this with caring for someone can be particularly challenging. Being a working family carer means you have rights and there are other things you can do to help make things a little easier.
Correct at the time of writing: April 2026
Managing paid work alongside caring for someone can feel like doing two jobs at once. Caring often brings unexpected challenges – it might begin suddenly or build up over time, and it isn’t always something you can plan for.
You’re not alone. Most of us will become carers at some point in our lives, and more than one in seven people in the workplace is juggling work with caring responsibilities.
There are ways to help manage the pressures of work and care, such as:
As a working carer, the support you need may change over time – from something simple like being able to make a phone call during the day to check on the person you care for, to more flexible working or leave arrangements when someone is discharged from hospital.
Who should know about my caring role?
You are not obliged to let your employer know of your caring role. However, as a family carer you have some statutory rights, and your employer may also consider offering additional support. Be aware of your organisation’s policy in supporting carers. This may involve consulting the staff handbook, intranet, union or staff representative.
It may be useful to inform your line manager and HR Department. If you feel uncomfortable talking about it to your employer in detail, you can request a Carers Assessment from Suffolk County Council and present the completed assessment to your employer.
Colleagues can often be a great source of support, and it can really help to talk things through with someone at work you trust.
You might find that other colleagues are carers too. Supporting each other can make it easier to start conversations with your employer about how you could be better supported at work. Some people ask their employer to help set up a carers’ group or meeting, so they can come together and explore ways of balancing work and caring more effectively.
What are my rights as a working carer?
Your rights at work come from two main sources.
The law gives you statutory rights, which apply to everyone. You may also have contractual rights, set out in your contract of employment, which can sometimes be more generous than your statutory rights.
A right to request flexible working
A right to to time off
A right to carers' leave
The right to parental leave
You are protected from discrimination
Practical help with caring
At some point, you may need extra help with caring. Finding the right support can make a big difference, both for the person you care for and for your own peace of mind.
There are a range of options available, depending on your situation and what resources you have. These could include:
- asking family or friends to help
- getting someone to provide paid care – like from a care agency or private care worker
- using local voluntary or community services, such as befriending schemes or community transport
- accessing local services
- arranging respite allowing you to have a break from caring
Advice on Benefits
If you are considering changing your working arrangements, you may want to consider the impact on your finances. To get dedicated information and advice on what benefits you may be entitled to contacting your local Citizens Advice.
There is basic information on our Benefits Information guide or you could try the Turn2Us Benefits Calculator.
Thinking of Leaving Work?
If you’re thinking about leaving work, it can help to pause and reflect on whether this is really what you want – and if not, what might help you stay in work.
You may want to think about what you would be giving up, and how this could affect you, for example:
- Would you manage on a lower income?
- Would you miss the independence and social contact that work brings?
- Could you lose skills or confidence you’ve built up over time?
- How might leaving work affect your future pension?
Talking to your employer can also help, you could discuss:
- flexible working
- taking paid or unpaid leave while you think about longer‑term plans
- taking a career break
Employers value skilled, experienced staff and are often keen to support them to stay in work. They may be able to help in ways you haven’t considered yet. You could speak to your manager directly, or ask your HR team or union representative to support the conversation.
Thinking of Returning to Work?
Thinking about returning to work can feel like a big step. A helpful place to start is by thinking about the kind of job you might like, what you enjoy doing, and what support might be available to help you move forward.
If you’re not sure what you’d like to do, it can help to write down your skills and interests, especially anything you’ve found satisfying or meaningful in the past.
You may have gained valuable skills through:
- paid work
- volunteering
- your role as a carer
Once you have a clearer idea of the types of roles you might be interested in, you can look into any training or refresher courses that could help build your confidence or update your skills.
If it has been some time since you applied for a job, you can gain lots of guidance online with tips on CV writing and interviews. These sites are worth a look:
CV library – for guidance on improving your CV
Monster – for help with interview techniques
Reed – with tips on preparing for a job interview
ACAS can also provide a wealth of information on different training programmes as well as useful advice on matters related to returning to work including template letters, job applications, your rights and working practices.
Have you considered volunteering?
If you have been out of work for some time you may want to look to build up your confidence and skills. Or you may want to see if employment can work for you before committing to a new role. If either of these points sound like where you are at, then volunteering may be an option.
We have many volunteering roles at Suffolk Family Carers, that are regular hours or some shorter-term roles, our Volunteer Team would be happy to discuss any thoughts you may have on volunteering with us. There is more information and lots of varied roles over at Volunteer Suffolk.
