Make Work Pay: employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children

In the Plan to Make Work Pay, the government committed to review the implementation of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, and to assess whether further support is needed to help unpaid carers balance work with their caring responsibilities. When the Employment Rights Act 2025 was passed, we also made a commitment to review the employment rights available to parents who have a seriously ill child.

We are seeking views on:

• the information and guidance that is available to support unpaid carers
• the potential need for further support
• what forms of support would be helpful for both unpaid carers and parents with a seriously ill child

This consultation is part of the review of employment rights for unpaid carers.

Anyone can respond to this consultation, and we particularly welcome views from those with lived experience of caring responsibilities, businesses, those with experience in supporting unpaid carers in the workplace, and those with expertise in unpaid care.