The government has launched a consultation examining whether existing employment rights for unpaid carers remain fit for purpose and seeking views on potential new rights, including paid carer's leave and a statutory entitlement to paid leave for parents of seriously ill children.

Background

On 9 June 2026, the Department for Business and Trade published a consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children.

The consultation follows the introduction of statutory unpaid carer's leave in April 2024, which gives eligible employees the right to take up to five days' unpaid leave each year to provide or arrange care for a dependant with long-term care needs.

The government has previously committed to reviewing how the new right is operating in practice and considering whether additional support may be required for employees with caring responsibilities.
The consultation closes on 1 September 2026.

Consultation proposals

The government's consultation aims to gather evidence on the efficacy of current employment rights for carers and to explore potential reforms, rather than presenting firm policy proposals at this stage. It seeks views on whether the existing entitlement of five days' unpaid carer's leave should be extended, whether longer periods of protected unpaid leave might be appropriate, and whether there is a case for introducing paid carer's leave. Key considerations include eligibility criteria, evidence requirements, and the...

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