Employee benefits provider Unum UK has rolled out specialist eldercare assistance to enhance its support for carers.
Its more than 900 employees will now be able to access comprehensive eldercare support provided by eldercare support organisation Seniorcare. Via a platform, staff will also be access information and advice on caring for their elder dependents and compare care homes and providers to help find care solutions. In addition, they can find care specialists which will provide one-to-one support and guidance to help alleviate emotional burden, and offer information to understand, find and fund care.
Unum has introduced the benefit as part of its work to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace environment, as well as catering to the needs of its employees throughout their life and career.
This follows Unum updating its carers leave policy in January, to offer all staff with caring responsibilities up to five days of paid leave per year, regardless of how long they have been in their roles. The five days can be taken flexibly, individually or as half days, in order to help them to manage both their work and caring responsibilities and have a healthier work-life balance.
The eldercare support and carer’s leave sits alongside Unum’s employee assistance programme, which has a 24/7 helpline that offers support for childcare and eldercare, among other types of assistance.
Jane Hulme, HR director at Unum UK, said: “Connecting Lottie’s eldercare expertise with Unum’s culture of putting people at the heart of employee benefits helps make sure the caregivers among our workforce can be fully present and thrive at work. With five generations in the modern workforce and a growing number in the sandwich generation, we want to nurture and retain the best talent through different stages of their working life to enable them all to thrive.”
