{ "id": 2747, "date": "2023-03-31T13:17:44", "date_gmt": "2023-03-31T13:17:44", "guid": { "rendered": "http:\/\/efcdigitalwales.org\/?page_id=2747" }, "modified": "2023-10-25T09:11:51", "modified_gmt": "2023-10-25T09:11:51", "slug": "practice-workplace-support", "status": "publish", "type": "page", "link": "https:\/\/efcdigitalwales.org\/en_gb\/practice-workplace-support\/", "title": { "rendered": "Practice – Workplace support" }, "content": { "rendered": "
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Workplace support<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As well as flexible working and special leave options other forms of workplace support can make a real difference to carers and help them remain in work.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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As well as flexible working and special leave options other forms of workplace support can make a real difference to carers and help them remain in work.\u00a0<\/p>

Examples of such support include publicising workplace policies on the intranet or in handbooks, employee assistance programmes and health and wellbeing schemes and setting up in-house networking groups to provide\u00a0peer support<\/a>.<\/p>

Other forms of practical support which are valued by carers often include quite simple things such as access to a private telephone and car parking close to the workplace to make getting into and out of work quicker and easier.<\/p>

\u201cI have access to a telephone, so if I leave Mum in the morning and she is depressed or unwell, I can call her through the day. I can go somewhere private and have a chat with her without having to worry about what\u2019s going to happen \u2018til I get home.\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0Smaller businesses also find that just being open and flexible goes a long way to support carers and multi-skilling, good communication and team working provide effective cover if carers have unexpected emergencies.<\/p>

\u00a0\u201cI’m a believer in give and take. If you are flexible with your employees, they’ll be flexible with you, for example, when extra cover is needed.\u201d
<\/i>Owner, SME<\/b><\/span><\/h5><\/div>

Top of the list of carers\u2019 needs is often information and advice on how to get help with their caring role. Some organisations offer such in-house support to carers including signposting them to information about services to support the person they look after.\u00a0<\/p>

Examples of other flexible benefits could include disability or healthcare insurance and childcare or care vouchers.<\/p>

If your organisation doesn’t have some of these employee benefits and you would be interested in finding out more about how to develop new policies or networks Employers for Carers may be able to help. More information about how we can help can be viewed\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>

Signposting to external support for carers
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Employers can play a valuable role in signposting carers in their workforce to external sources of support. There are a number of external organisations that provide practical support, advice and information for carers. These include:<\/p>