More than a third (36%) of UK cancer carers want to move jobs due to lack of employer support during their time as a carer, according to research by cancer navigation provider Reframe Cancer.
Its survey of 442 cancer carers across the UK in both full and part-time paid employment also found that 40% of 18–34-year-old cancer carers were most likely to want to move jobs due to lack of workplace support.
More than half (57%) felt unprepared to care for a loved one with cancer when they took on the role and lacked knowledge about what was required, while 63% said the emotional impact made it difficult to keep working. Two-thirds (67%) of 18-34 year old employees agreed this was the case.
Almost half (48%) said they felt pressure to return to work as soon as possible after time off for caring duties, with 53% those aged 18–34 feeling the most pressure.
Almost two-thirds (62%) said work was a good distraction, 62% felt they could talk openly to their colleagues about being a carer, and 63% said their line manager showed concern or interest when they were informed about their caring responsibilities.
When asked what resources or services could help with managing their carer role, flexible working hours (48%) and working remotely (40%) ranked as the two most helpful things.
Mark Stephenson, chief executive officer at Reframe Cancer, said: “Providing support and the right level of employee benefits to working cancer carers is going to be an increasing need for employers over the coming years. People will often take on the role of being a carer while working for 12 months, so it is a big commitment and one that should be fully supported by employers. Employers will need to be aware that insurance and employee assistance programmes do not cover carers and specifically cancer carers where a degree of specialist assistance is vital, so it’s important to evaluate how this growing group of employees can be supported in the workplace.”
