How changes in policy can reduce people risk and achieve DEI objectives
In a tight labour market, talent retention and sustainably productive workforce are high on HR agendas, which means no employer can afford to ignore the people risk of unsupported carers and parents. Add in shifting age demographics and the sandwich generation, supporting carers is a growing challenge across UK organisations.
In this webinar we will explore the hidden toll on pay budgets, absence levels and performance that are occurring in business today as employees – often the most experienced or most senior – are distracted, take time off, reduce working hours or turn down promotions in order to look after dependents. With careful HR policy changes and supportive benefits in place, employers can reap a healthy return from investing in this cohort of workers.
The panel will discuss practical, forward-looking actions employers can take; from the most effective benefits to the HR policy shifts that are needed to keep working carers resilient and engaged. By acting, reward and benefits professionals can help to mitigate carers and parents falling behind in their careers, pay progression and/or pensions savings, and thus opening up diversity, inclusion and talent gaps.
Key issues to be explored
• Why supporting parents and carers is a workforce talent and DEI issue
• How to grow both carer support and workforce productivity for a win-win situation
• Understand the cross-cutting lens of carer support to solve key benefits and pay challenges
• Identify the biggest people risks linked to caring responsibilities – create a business case for achieving desired outcomes
• What is needed to implement a carer policy (beyond statutory minimum) that truly moves the dial
• Practical ideas that cost little or nothing, but make a big impact
Care Experience Lead, Yurtle
Aaron is Carer Experience Lead at Yurtle, an employee benefit provider who specialise in the prevention of workplace absence through parent and carer support. Prior to joining Yurtle, Aaron spent over 20 years in various disability and carers charities, including most recently his role as Director of Carer Support at Carers UK where he gave evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee on caregiving. Aaron also holds postgraduate governance qualifications with an interest in HR and culture. Aaron utilises his 40 years experience as a caregiver to inform the development of Yurtle’s caregiver support app and insurance products.
Head of Reward & Performance, Mitie
Robyn is an experienced Reward & HR Professional, able to deliver relationships and offer valuable business insights.
Global Future of Work Director, Unilever
Morag is the global Future of Work Lead at Unilever with particular interests in new employment models, age and longevity. She is the creator of U-Work which is what Unilever calls it’s new employment model and in 2022 she was named as one of Forbes Top 50 Future of Work thinkers. In 2021 she set up the first Carers Commitment Statement and Carers Network in Unilever and is passionate about supporting this group. Earlier this year she posted on LinkedIn about the importance of flexibility for carers.