The Government has launched a consultation on strengthening employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children.
As part of its Plan to Make Work Pay and Next Steps to Make Work Pay the Government committed to review the implementation of Carer’s Leave and consider whether there is a need to change the current entitlement introduced by the previous government under the Carer’s Leave Act 2023. Subsequently, in November 2025 the Department for Business and Trade published the terms of reference for the Government’s review of Carer’s Leave and employment rights for unpaid carers.
When the Employment Rights Act 2025 was passed, the Government also committed to review the employment rights of parents of seriously ill children.
The Make Work Pay: consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children seeks views on the information and guidance that is available to support unpaid carers, the potential need for further support and what forms of support would be helpful for both unpaid carers and parents with a seriously ill child.
Options being considered include:
- Extended period of leave - extending the current entitlement to unpaid Carer’s Leave (which provides up to 5 days per year of unpaid Carer’s Leave) to allow unpaid carers to take more time away from work to manage their caring responsibilities
- Right to return - introducing a statutory “right to return” after a longer period of unpaid leave. This could operate in a similar way to maternity leave, where the employee’s job, or a similar equivalent role, is protected for the duration of the absence
- Paid Carer’s Leave - introducing a short period of paid Carer’s Leave that can be taken to fulfil caring responsibilities.
The consultation also seeks views on a proposed new statutory entitlement to leave and pay for parents of seriously ill children, which has become known as Hugh’s Law. While these individuals would benefit from any enhancement to Carer’s Leave, this proposed right specifically focuses on parents and primary caregivers in this circumstance.
The consultation closes on 1 September 2026.
