Carers across North West Norfolk are set to benefit from a new entitlement to vital time off from their jobs to ensure that their caring duties are fulfilled under new laws backed James Wild MP and other MPs on Friday.
The Carer’s Leave Bill would help alleviate the strain and worry for carers who balance employment with other care obligations. Under the Bill, at least 5 days of leave will be available to eligible employees from the first day of their employment, meaning unpaid carers will be supported regardless of how long they’ve worked with their employer. Staff will be able to take the leave flexibly to suit their caring responsibilities and will not need to provide evidence of how the leave is used or who it will be used for.
Commenting on the importance of this Bill, James’ highlighted the need for such legislation:
“We all know from personal experience and talking to constituents the toll that providing care can take not just on mental and physical wellbeing, but on people’s household finances and other responsibilities including of course their job. The impact of the Bill is significant. It gives rights to millions of people who have unpaid caring responsibilities, supporting them to remain in work and improving their health and wellbeing.”
Since being elected to the House just over three years ago, James has worked with local organisations that support carers including the Motor Neurone Disease Association as well as West Norfolk Carers.
Speaking in the House of Commons, James highlighted cited comments from Sue Heal, a volunteer with the Norfolk, Norwich and Waveney branch of MNDA who suggested that ‘recent research conducted by the MND Association found MND carers are physically and mentally exhausted, unable to access breaks and impacted financially. Many are also juggling caring with work and additional responsibilities.’ He said:
“She asked me to support the Bill on behalf of MND sufferers and their carers and I am very pleased to do so today.”
This Bill hopes to bridge the gap between carers being able to access employment and responding to care duties. As noted by James, this is especially important during the current cost of living pressures:
“This Bill would help support unpaid carers to remain in work. There has never been a more important time to do so. It would also bring significant benefits to business, and the wider economy. Through this Bill and other measures carers will have a package of support that will ensure they can access the services they need, when they need them, and that carers are helped to balance their own lives, including employment, with caring responsibilities’.
This Bill comes alongside wider support for carers, with the Government’s continuing implementation of improved rights through the Care Act of 2014. Measures, such as the White Paper on social care includes up to £25 million to kick-start a change in services so that ‘careers can access respite, breaks and wellbeing support’.
The Bill passed the Third reading on Friday and now goes to the House of Lords for debate.
