Carers Rights Day is built around the theme ‘Know your rights, use your rights’. It’s an opportunity for all of us to learn more about who carers are, their rights and what needs to change so that they can continue supporting the people they care for with confidence and security. 

The reality of caring

Every day, 12,000 people become unpaid carers for a partner, family member or a friend (CarersUK) – many may step into this role unaware of the rights that they are entitled to or where to turn for timely support. 

Over the past year, CarersUK have highlighted some of the challenges carers face and raised awareness of some worrying trends: 

  • 65% of carers said that they struggle to get a good night’s sleep due to their caring role
  • Two thirds (66%) say that they need more support with their health and wellbeing
  • Unpaid carers from ethnic minority groups have higher rates of poverty than unpaid carers who are white   

What are the carers rights?

When carers understand their rights, they are better protected and more likely to maintain their mental, physical and financial wellbeing – let’s look at the rights in detail. 

The right to unpaid carer’s leave and the right to request flexible working 

Carers should not have to choose between their job and the person they look after. These rights recognise the day-to-day realities of caring – whether that means attending medical appointments, picking up prescriptions, responding to sudden changes in health or simply being present when the person they care for needs them the most. When workplaces offer genuine flexibility, it allows carers to manage these responsibilities without fear of job loss or penalty. This isn’t just a supportive gesture, flexibility is essential in preventing stress, burnout and financial strain, allowing carers to balance their responsibilities with dignity and stability. 

The right to ask your GP practice to identify you as a carer 

When a GP practice knows that someone is a carer, it means they can be supported in a more informed and proactive way. Being recorded as a carer helps the GP team understand the pressures and responsibilities you may be managing alongside your own health. It can mean being offered priority access to vaccines and public health campaigns, earlier conversations about your wellbeing, or tailored advice on managing stress, fatigue or any health issues linked to your caring role. It also increases the likelihood that you’ll be signposted to local support services. 

The right (and choice) to request a free flu jab 

Caring often involves close, daily contact, and becoming unwell can make it harder – or even impossible – to provide the support that someone relies on. A flu jab not only reduces the risk of catching the flu, but also reduces the worry of spreading illness within the household. For many carers who cannot take a step back from their caring role, remaining healthy is not just a preference – it’s essential. 

Protection against discrimination or harassment 

For carers, protection from discrimination and harassment means they cannot be treated unfairly or negatively because of their caring responsibilities. Under the Equality Act 2010, carers are protected by “associative discrimination”, which recognises that someone may face prejudice not because of their own condition, but because they are linked to a person who is older, disabled or has a long-term health condition. 

In practical terms, this means a carer shouldn’t be refused opportunities at work, penalised for needing flexibility, or subjected to comments or behaviour that belittles their caring role. It also means employers and services must take reasonable steps to ensure carers feel safe, respected and supported. For carers who already carry significant emotional and practical pressure, these protections help create environments where they can seek support, discuss their needs and manage their responsibilities without fear of judgement or unfair treatment. 

The right to a carer’s assessment 

A carers assessment isn’t just a formality – it can unlock access to emotional support, respite, equipment, financial assistance and practical help. Despite this, the gap between entitlement and uptake remains large, often due to lack of awareness or misconceptions about eligibility. Providing simpler pathways, clearer communication and more culturally sensitive approaches will help carers to understand that asking for help is a right, not a burden. 

Being consulted when the person you care for is discharged from hospital 

Often carers are the bridge between hospital and home and being included in hospital discharge planning means they are not left out of crucial decisions that directly affect their responsibilities. When hospitals identify and consult carers, it ensures they understand the care needs of the person returning home, any changes to medication or mobility, and what support will be required in the days and weeks after discharge. 

Carers rights in the workplace

Whilst balancing work and caring responsibilities – it is required by law, that an employee has the right to: 

  • Take unpaid time off to deal with appointments or emergencies involving dependants
  • Take unpaid parental leave to look after a child under the age of 18  
  • Request flexible working
  • Receive protection from discrimination or harassment  

Workplace rights for carers are more than policy statements – they represent a cultural shift in how society values unpaid care. The rights to take unpaid time off for emergencies, request flexible working, or take parental leave all acknowledge a simple truth: caring isn’t something that happens neatly outside working hours. It shapes daily routines, affects energy levels, and often requires fast responses to changes in health or wellbeing. 

For carers, these rights create essential breathing room. The ability to attend a medical appointment, manage a crisis, or simply be present when the person they care for needs them is what keeps many caring situations stable. When these rights are understood and genuinely supported, carers feel more able to balance work and care, reducing the stress and financial pressure that often accompany their role. 

The true challenge – and opportunity – lies in how consistently these rights are applied. Too often, carers don’t use the rights they’re entitled to because they’re unsure how, they fear stigma, or they work in environments where flexibility is interpreted as a favour rather than a structural support. This is where forward-thinking organisations can make a difference. By normalising open conversations about caring, training managers to recognise the realities carers face, and embedding flexible working as standard practice, workplaces can become part of the solution rather than an additional strain. 

Supporting carers rights 

We created our animation on carers’ workplace rights as part of a wider platform designed to increase awareness and understanding of the support available to carers. Within this broader context, the animation provides an accessible, easy-to-understand way for carers to learn what they’re entitled to, how these rights protect them, and how they can be used in real situations. For many carers, especially those balancing significant responsibilities, having information presented in a clear and accessible format can be the difference between managing their role confidently and reaching a point of crisis. 

This also ties into a broader vision for how carers access support in the first place. Our BetterCare Support: Carers platform – a digital carer’s assessment – is designed to be a core part of the digital front door, helping carers reach the support they need at the right time, without barriers or delays. When carers can complete assessments in a format that fits their lives, they are more likely to come forward early, receive preventative support, and avoid the exhaustion and health impacts that unpaid care can bring. 

The workplace, health and social care systems, community organisations and digital services all have a role to play. By continuing to raise awareness, designing tools that meet carers where they are and strengthening partnerships across sectors, we can build a system that supports carers, not only as workers or family members, but as essential contributors to the stability and wellbeing of our communities.  

Read more about BetterCare Support: Carers here.