Making carer work coexist with your job

Balancing carer work with long-term employment can be incredibly challenging.   

Many people find themselves juggling the demands of a full-time job while also caring for a loved one, which often leads to stress and burnout.   

However, with the right strategies and mindset, it is possible to maintain your professional life while fulfilling your responsibilities as a carer.   

In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips and resources to help you navigate both roles, ensuring that you can succeed in your job and your carer duties without compromising on either.

Why a work-life care balance is important

When you are the primary caregiver for a loved one, it is natural to want to give them the best possible care.

However, stress and exhaustion make it hard to stay fully effective, especially if this is compounded by long or difficult working hours.

Maintaining a healthy balance when managing carer work is crucial not only for your loved one's well-being but also for your own mental and physical health.

Overworking without proper rest can lead to burnout, reduced productivity, and even health issues.

By achieving balance, you’ll be able to provide better care, remain focused at work, and live a healthier lifestyle.

Prioritising self-care and finding support ensures that both your domestic responsibilities and professional commitments can coexist without overwhelming you.

What are the challenges associated with carer work?

Carer work, while deeply rewarding, comes with a unique set of challenges that can take a physical, emotional, and mental toll.

Carers are responsible for providing essential support to individuals who may be elderly, disabled, or suffering from chronic illnesses, often facing long hours, emotional stress, and sometimes difficult working conditions.

The demands of the job can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, isolation, and financial strain.

Below, we will explore the various challenges associated with balancing your work as a carer with a job.

Exhaustion: Juggling two different roles simultaneously with very unique sets of demands can lead to feelings of increased stress, guilt and exhaustion. Understanding and addressing the challenges in this dual role can make it easier to find a resolution.

Time management: Balancing carer work with employment can make it difficult to maintain both schedules, due to the unpredictable nature of care work. If left unresolved, this can result in scheduling conflicts between the two roles.

Lack of support: Many carers struggle with a lack of formal and informal support systems. Employers may not always offer flexible working conditions, and family members or friends may be unable to share caregiving responsibilities. This lack of backup can result in carers feeling frustrated, leaving little time for self-care or relaxation.

Limited career growth: Managing caregiving duties alongside work can restrict career advancement opportunities. Carers may find it difficult to take on additional responsibilities or participate in training and development programs due to time constraints. This can stall career progression, leading to frustration and a sense of stagnation in their professional life.

Social isolation: Juggling carer work with your job can also mean you do not get to socialise as much and potentially lead to loneliness and depression.

Financial pressure: The financial burden can be significant when doing both care work and employment. Some carers may need to reduce their working hours or even leave their jobs to provide adequate care, resulting in reduced income and benefits.

Difficulty maintaining boundaries: Carers who are employed may struggle to maintain clear boundaries between their caregiving responsibilities and their professional lives. Work-related tasks can bleed into your care work and vice versa, leading to blurred boundaries that make it hard to fully focus on either role. This lack of separation can increase stress and decrease the quality of both caregiving and work.

Health decline: Constantly balancing caregiving with work can take a toll on the physical and mental health of carers. Long hours, interrupted sleep, and the physical demands of caregiving can result in fatigue, chronic pain, and other health issues. These physical challenges often go unaddressed, as carers may prioritise the needs of others over their own health.

Practical tips for balancing carer work with your job

Balancing carer responsibilities with a job can be an overwhelming and challenging task, as both roles demand significant time, energy, and attention.

Many carers find themselves stretched thin, struggling to manage the unpredictable nature of caregiving alongside the structured demands of work.

However, with thoughtful planning and the right strategies, it is possible to achieve a better balance between these two important aspects of life. Below, we will explore practical tips for managing carer work alongside your job, helping you maintain your wellbeing while fulfilling both personal and professional responsibilities.

Explain circumstances to employer at earliest opportunity

The first thing you should do is probably the most obvious. If you are finding it difficult to balance your carer work with employment then it may help to speak to your employer about the concerns you have. This will hopefully allow you to come to an arrangement that works for both of you. If your employer is understanding, it can help to reduce the burden on you, knowing that you have the support of your supervisor.

Flexible working

Requesting flexible working can make it easier to manage your schedule and ease some of the pressures associated with navigating two roles. This will give you more control over when, where and how much work you take on. What flexible working looks like depends on the arrangement that suits you.

For example, it may mean fitting hours around your carer work, or simply working from home. Depending on your arrangement with your employer, you may be able to work ‘compressed hours’, meaning that you fit your work into a shorter number of longer days, for example compressing a week’s worth of hours over only four days.

However, it is important to note that it is not always easy for employees to decide how to change their working pattern whilst also remaining realistic about what they are able to get. For instance, not all jobs can be done from home and working flexible hours could have an impact on how busy you will be and how much spare time you will have. This is something to bear in mind before requesting flexible working.

Part-time work

In some cases, switching from full-time to part-time work can make it easier to balance caregiving responsibilities with your job. Reducing your work hours can also minimise the need to sacrifice personal time for either your job or caregiving duties.

Take a break

Everybody needs some time off work now and again. If you are not taking some time off for yourself, this is likely to lead to burnout, which will eventually have a negative impact on your health and wellbeing.

Respite care

Sometimes you just need a break. When you are caregiving for your loved one, it is easy to neglect yourself or feel isolated. However, respite care can take some of the burden away from you. You will have the peace of mind knowing that your loved one is in the safe hands of trained professionals while you get some much-needed time to rest and recharge your batteries. For more information on when it might be a good time to consider respite care, check out our blog, ‘Signs it’s time to consider respite care for your loved one.’

Get other family members involved

If you can, get other family members involved. Sometimes carers are tempted to try and organise everything themselves, when there may be relatives who can help ease the burden. Of course this may not be possible for everyone, but if you do have a supportive family, it is certainly worth exploring.

What help are carers legally entitled to?

Thankfully, there is some help out there for carers both paid and unpaid. We highlight these below:

Carer’s allowance

You may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours per week caring for someone. Eligible carers are entitled to up to £81.90 a week.

In the Autumn Budget announced in October 2024, it was announced that the weekly hours for Carer’s Allowance will increase to 16 hours at the National Living Wage. As a result, earnings will rise to £45 a week from April 2025. This means that more than 60,000 carers will be made eligible for support.

This will help carers to balance work and caring responsibilities.

Carer’s credit

If you don’t quite meet the threshold for Carer’s Allowance, you may be entitled to Carer’s Credit if you spend at least 20 hours per week caring for your loved one. Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance (NI) credit that helps carers who may not be earning enough to pay NI contributions. It helps to protect their future State Pension by filling in gaps in their NI record.

Carer's assessment

Carers are entitled to a free carer’s assessment from their local authority. This assessment determines what kind of help a carer might need, such as respite care, home adaptations, or emotional support. Based on the outcome, the local authority may provide direct financial support or other services.

Time off for emergencies

Under the law, employees are allowed time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependant. A dependant could refer to a child, a person you care for, parent or grandchild for example. If you do need to take a break due to a crisis at home, be sure to speak with your employer.

Help with council tax

As a carer, you may be entitled to help with council tax. The eligibility for a council tax reduction depends on your income, living arrangements, and the benefits received by the person you care for.

Universal credit carer element

If you qualify for Carer’s Allowance, you can receive an additional amount in your Universal Credit known as the 'carer element,' even if you don’t actually apply for Carer’s Allowance.

Please note you may also be eligible for additional financial support known as the 'Carer’s Premium' or 'Carer’s Addition' which will be added to the following benefits if you are receiving Carer’s Allowance:

• Pension Credit
• Housing benefit
• Council tax support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
  
• Income support

Protection from discrimination

Under the Equality Act 2010, carers are protected from discrimination by association with a disabled person. This means employers cannot treat you unfairly or harass you because of your caregiving responsibilities.

Flexible working rights and how to request them

Balancing paid employment with carer work can be incredibly challenging, especially when you're working full-time or have limited flexibility in your role. The pressure of trying to meet professional responsibilities while also supporting a loved one can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, UK employment law offers important protections and rights designed to support working carers and help them navigate this demanding dual role.

If you’ve been employed by the same organisation for at least 26 weeks, you have a legal right to request flexible working arrangements. These might include adjusted start and finish times, compressed or part-time hours, remote or hybrid working, or even job sharing. These kinds of adjustments can significantly ease the strain of juggling carer work with job responsibilities, giving you more control over your schedule and reducing daily stress.

When making a flexible working request, it’s important to approach it clearly and constructively. Start by putting your request in writing and be sure to state that it is a statutory request and detail exactly what changes you’re asking for. Explain how the proposed arrangement will help you manage your carer work while still meeting your work duties. Wherever possible, be specific and solution-oriented - for example, suggest how your responsibilities can be covered during certain hours, or how communication with your team can be maintained remotely.

By law, employers must consider flexible working requests in a reasonable manner and respond within three months. While they can decline a request for valid business reasons, many organisations are becoming more aware of the need to support employees who are also carers. Understanding your legal rights and putting together a thoughtful, well-prepared proposal can make carer work more manageable - without forcing you to choose between your job and the person you care for.

Emergency planning and contingency strategies

One of the most stressful aspects of carer work is its unpredictability. A loved one’s health can change without warning, appointments may be rearranged at the last minute, or an emergency can arise right in the middle of a busy workday. These sudden disruptions can make it incredibly difficult to stay focused and productive at work. That’s why having a solid emergency care plan in place is so important - it gives you a level of control when things feel out of your hands.

An emergency care plan ensures you’re not left scrambling when the unexpected happens. By preparing in advance, you can reduce the risk of job disruptions due to urgent carer work, and gain peace of mind knowing there’s a backup plan ready to go. It also helps protect your working relationships by minimising the impact on your professional responsibilities.

A good contingency plan should include a list of emergency contacts, reliable backup carers, family members, neighbours or friends who are willing and able to step in at short notice. It’s also essential to prepare a care information sheet, outlining your loved one’s daily routines, medication schedules, medical conditions, and personal preferences. Make sure someone you trust has access to your care recipient’s home, such as a spare key and contact details. Additionally, research respite care services or adult day care centres in advance, so you have practical options to fall back on during a crisis.

If you’re registered as a carer with your local council, you may also be entitled to an emergency carers card or a formal support plan that can be triggered in urgent situations. While planning for the unexpected won’t remove the emotional demands of carer work, it will give you a safety net - helping you maintain stability in your job while still being there for the person you care for.

Need respite care or other support for your loved one?

If you need a break from your carer work and are considering respite care or live-in care for your loved one, Autumna can help. Our directory allows you to search for respite care providers or live-in carers in your area.

Simply type in your preferred location on our homepage search bar and our system will bring up a list of providers near you.

You can also head over to our FREE Shortlist and answer a few quick questions to receive a tailored list of care providers that match your requirements.

Alternatively, get in touch with our friendly team of advisors on 01892 335 330 for more information.