Eurocarers is the European network representing informal carers (unpaid carers) and their organisations. It is composed of practitioners, academics, representatives from the third sector and policymakers from all European countries to share concerns, best practices and policy recommendations that could be incorporated into EU-level advocacy.
The latest Policy Working Group meeting, held at the European Centre for Social Welfare and Research in Vienna on 10-11 April 2025, centred on two main topics:
- Mapping the concerns of informal carers (unpaid carers) regarding long term care (LTC) systems relying on migrant care workers
- Work-life balance and carers’ leave
Below is a summary of the discussion among participants of the Policy Working Group regarding work-life balance and carers’ leave.
The right to care should not come at the cost of one’s career, financial security, or wellbeing. Yet, many unpaid carers across Europe struggle to balance their employment and caring responsibilities. The Eurocarers Policy Working Group’s recent meeting assessed the implementation and shortcomings of the EU Work-Life Balance Directive.
Current situation and challenges
The EU Work-Life Balance Directive, adopted in 2019, represents a significant step in recognising the needs of unpaid carers in employment settings. The core provisions of the directive include:
- Five days of unpaid carers’ leave per year
- The right to request flexible working arrangements.
Six years on, many member states have failed to comply with the Directive’s requirements despite the 2022 deadline for transitioning into national legislation, prompting the European Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against non-compliant Member States. In addition, Member States have also been asked to submit comprehensive reports on their implementation, including data on uptake by both men and women, to assess the effectiveness of the directive.
Carers UK’s campaign for paid carers leave
Research conducted by Carers UK, presented during the meeting, showcases the significant impact of caring responsibilities on employment:
- 67% of unpaid carers in the UK have to quit work
- 40% of unpaid carers in the UK have to reduce their working hours.
The Carer’s Leave Act, which covers employees in England, Wales and Scotland, gives employees the entitlement to five days of unpaid leave per year, from the first day of employment; it also provides the same employment protections to employees as other forms of family-related leave, including protection from dismissal. Despite this, survey data from Carers UK indicate that 56% of carers are unable to take unpaid time off from work because they cannot afford to do so. Participants expressed the significant negative impact this has on the unpaid carers’ mental health, immediate financial needs, long-term earning potential, and pension rights. In response, Carers UK is actively lobbying for amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to include provisions for unpaid carers, such as five days of paid carers’ leave as the first initiative, with a long-term goal of increasing it to ten days.
Economic case for paid carers leave
Research indicates that £5.3 billion is lost to the UK economy through lost earnings, reduced tax revenues, and increased benefits claims due to unpaid carers leaving work. The impact of this situation is particularly high in critical sectors such as the National Health Service, where one in three NHS staff members are unpaid carers, raising concerns about staff retention. Working to rectify this situation is beneficial to carers and to companies with carer-friendly policies, as evidenced in the case of Centrica. The company saved £1.8 million through reduced absenteeism and presenteeism and £1.3 million in staff retention savings in just one year. Providing paid carers’ leave also helps to address gender inequality in the labour market, as more women than men are forced to step back from work to take care of loved ones.
Carers UK’s cost modelling estimates that implementing paid carers’ leave would cost between £5.5 million and £32 million per year, depending on the payment level, suggesting it would be a relatively cost-effective policy intervention, especially given the amount currently being lost.
International perspectives
Ireland’s carers’ leave system stands out as one of the most generous in Europe, offering up to two years of state-funded paid carer leave at €220 per week, with the flexibility to work 18.5 hours while receiving benefits, and three years of leave for each person cared for, alongside additional entitlements for those caring for multiple family members. The benefits have now been extended to self-employed individuals as well. One primary issue noted was the difficulty in re-entering the workforce after an extended leave.
Plans and actions
The Eurocarers Policy Working Group will prepare a comprehensive policy paper outlining the key messages and recommendations for EU-level advocacy. To examine country-specific practices, the group plans to conduct a “study visit” in the next few months, potentially in collaboration with Carers UK and other national organisations. Additionally, they are preparing for the European Commission’s upcoming review of the Work-Life Balance Directive, with a major focus on advocating for mandatory paid carers’ leave across Member States, drawing on best practices from international counterparts.
About the author
Laura’s areas of research revolve around trust formation in information seeking, information overload and use of online communities for information exchange in different contexts. Laura is currently working with informal carers of people with dementia and LGBTQ+ carers to address their health information seeking practices.
