Local MP Ben Everitt has welcomed the news that 4,152 unpaid carers in his Milton Keynes North constituency will have access to new workplace rights from Saturday (6th April).
The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 comes into force this week on giving people who provide care to a family member, friend or relative the right to up to five days of unpaid leave from work to fulfil their caring responsibilities.
Ben Everitt MP supported this legislation in Parliament and is delighted that thousands of unpaid carers across Milton Keynes will benefit from the changes.
According to research from Carers UK, up to 2.3 million employees across Great Britain could benefit, while over 1 million employers will have to implement this right for their workforce.
The legislation has been supported by businesses, employers, professional bodies, charities, local authorities, unions and unpaid carers.
The Act will enable employees in Great Britain who provide care to someone who is disabled, older, or seriously ill to take up to five days off work each year to arrange or provide care. Having this additional flexibility will help unpaid carers to cope with the challenging task of balancing employment alongside their unpaid caring responsibilities.
Carers UK estimates that, on average, 600 people a day have to give up work in order to care for older, ill or disabled relatives and friends due to a lack of support and flexibility in the workplace.
Leading employers who already offer Carer’s Leave to their employees also say that this kind of support can help to deliver business benefits; improving productivity overall through better staff retention, by reducing recruitment costs, and by supporting employee wellbeing.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: "Carers play such an important role in our society so I'm delighted that the more than 4,000 unpaid carers across Milton Keynes North will now have access to better workplace rights."