Employees caring for their relatives - how does that impact on business?
It's heartening to see praise for care in the UK, which often suffers from negative media attention. Employers will need to be open to employees requesting flexible working or even emergency leave to care for their older and younger family in the periods when that care is needed most keenly. Asking for flexible working is now open to all after 26 weeks of employment and employers can always agree more temporary and informal arrangements. Let's hope that employees and businesses find mutually acceptable arrangements to allow staff to care for their nearest and dearest.
End-of-life care in the UK has been ranked as the best in the world with a study praising the quality and availability of services.The study of 80 countries said thanks to the NHS and hospice movement the care provided was "second to none".”
