Working voluntary carers take more time off

The number of people who had a job wile also providing voluntary care for a sick relative was about the same in 2007 as in 2005. Employees did take more time off to provide this care in 2007. The use of short-term care leave in particular increased. 

Number of voluntary carers stable

In 2007 just over 450 thousand employees provided care for a sick or invalid dependant for longer than two weeks. About the same number of employees provided voluntary care  for less than two weeks. These numbers are about the same as in 2005.

People who work and provide voluntary care

More short-term care leave

Just over one third (34 percent) of workers who had to provide care for more than two weeks took paid leave. This is slightly more than in 2005, when 31 percent took time off. The use of short-term care leave in particular increased, from 19 percent in 2005 to 26 percent in 2007. The most popular type of leave taken to care for a dependant for less than two weeks was holiday leave or compensation leave (30 percent).

People who work and provide voluntary care, by type of leave

Few workers take long-term care leave

People with a job who have to provide long-term care for a dependant as well also took more time off work in 2007 than in 2005. Nearly half (47 percent) of workers who took time off made use of care leave schemes in 2007. In 2005 this percentage was lower, at 41 percent.

The most used scheme was short-term care leave (38 percent). Only 10 percent took long-term care leave . This form of leave may be less popular, as it is unpaid.

Martijn Souren