The business case for employers supporting carers: reflecting on a UK model

Recruiting, retaining and returning carers to the workplace have already been identified as major economic and social issues in the UK. They are likely to become even more important as a consequence of demographic and economic pressures on families and employers (HM Government et al, 2013). This article sets out the current and future context regarding working carers, as well as the business response in terms of policy and practice, highlighting what has been achieved and what has yet to be addressed. It focuses specifically on the work of Employers for Carers (EfC), a membership forum of UK employers committed to supporting carers.