Standard Life is marking Carers Week (6-12 June) with an event in support of working carers at its Edinburgh-based headquarters.
The event has been organised by the organisation’s carers network in partnership with local charity Voice of Carers Across Lothian (Vocal) and will run throughout the day on 9 June.
It will bring together a number of employers, employees and charities, such as Centrica’s carers support network, Open University, Carer Positive, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, and Scottish Water, among others.
Breakout sessions will address the role of carer networks and training and support for line managers, in between which participants will be able to share their experiences and discuss best practice for supporting working carers.
Heather Inglis, diversity and inclusion manager at Standard Life, said: “The event is intended to get people talking about their own best practice and their experiences of what it is like being a carer or being an employer looking after carers.”
Standard Life communicated the event to staff through its intranet. In addition to providing information about the event, the communications also highlighted the employer's carers network and other support mechanisms available to employees with caring responsibilities.
The organisation offers working carers up to five paid days of carers' leave, as well as the opportunity to apply for a range of informal and formal flexible working arrangements. Staff can also gain support through the organisation’s employee assistance programme (EAP), which provides telephone support and access to six counselling sessions.
Through these mechanisms, Standard Life aims to support employee wellbeing and ensure that staff feel valued and engaged in the workplace.
In January, Standard Life introduced an online information platform, AgeingWorks, provided by Mercer’s The Positive Ageing Company. The platform gives employees access to resources, tips and action points that support positive ageing and care for older people.
Staff can also view webinars through the platform, including an upcoming webinar that will focus on working carers and the ways in which they can manage their own wellbeing.
Inglis added: “There is such a large number of people that are impacted by caring responsibilities and as the population ages that is likely to increase, so the more we can do to support people and retain them in the workforce, the better it will be."
