Carer’s Leave Policy – New Statutory Rights for Carers

With effect from 6 April 2024, the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 gives employees a statutory right to a week’s unpaid leave to care for a dependant with long term needs.

Employees have the right to take up to one week’s unpaid leave in a rolling 12-month period and the right applies from day one of employment.

Carer’s leave is different to time off for dependants leave, which is for emergency situations. 

The Carer’s Leave Policy template includes the following sections:

1. Introduction
2. Entitlement
3. What is a dependant?
4. What is a long-term care need?
5. Applying for carer’s leave
6. Postponing carer’s leave
7. Time off for dependants

Employers cannot deny an employee’s request for carer’s leave but can postpone it if they reasonably consider that the operation of the business would be unduly disrupted if the leave was approved.