1.5. Benefits to Employers (Preview)

Evidence has shown that supporting carers with good practice and flexible working arrangements*:

1. Increases employee engagement
Better employee engagement is a key element for better business outcomes.
Employees who are engaged significantly outperform work groups that are not engaged.

2. Attracts and retains experienced staff
Staff turnover costs were found to be on average just over £6000** and new employees take up to eight months to reach optimum productivity levels. By providing flexibility, which allows staff to balance work and care, your organisation is more likely to hold on to experienced employees.

3. Reduces stress and sick leave
Stress can show up as high staff turnover, an increase in sickness absence, reduced work performance, poor timekeeping and more customer complaints and cost you a lot of money at the same time. Simple changes to help reduce stress need not cost you anything at all. When employees are happy with their jobs, they are much less likely to experience stress and perform better.

4. Reduces recruitment and training costs
The more experienced an employee, the higher the costs to replace them if they leave. The majority of working carers are aged between the peak working ages of 50-64, so failing to hold onto these experienced workers represents a significant loss of investment to the employer, of resources, time and knowledge.

5. Improves service delivery and increases productivity
If you look after your staff, they will look after your customers. Providing flexible provisions for employees such as extended start and finish times can also enhance the customer experience by providing services outside of standard business hours.

6. Produces cost savings
There is a strong link between wellbeing interventions and financial benefits for employers, from reduced presenteeism and absenteeism, staff turnover and improved productivity and performance. Implementing flexible work practices can help your organisation to focus on outcomes, rather than concentrating on the hours that employees are at their desks.

7. Improves people management
When you remove obstacles and provide support and wellbeing practices for working carers you will also improve other workers’ experience and overall happiness in the workplace.

8. Increases staff morale and loyalty
Employees who feel they are understood and supported by their employer are more likely to be loyal and productive workers. Investing in services and support for employees that foster a positive environment will improve the workplace experience of all employees, and this culture can flow through the entire organisation.

9. Making team working more effective
Employees respond well to the perception of fairness in the workplace, both in terms of how the employee is treated but also how they see their co-workers being treated.

10. Commitment to corporate social responsibility
Taking head of your social impact is a good way to increase competitive advantage, protect and raise brand awareness and build relationships with customers and employees. By working in partnership with local communities, such as your local carer centre, you can demonstrate your commitment to corporate social responsibility and social inclusion for your staff.

* Who Cares Wins – Report for Carers UK by Centre for Social Inclusion Sheffield Hallam University
**Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) survey

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