Members' Business: Carer Positive Employer Initiative - 11 January 2018
Channel: The Scottish Parliament
Date: 11/01/2018

Tom Arthur: Carer Positive Employer Initiative—That the Parliament supports the
Carer Positive employer recognition scheme and its aim of making life better for carers; notes the
vital job that carers do, which Carers Scotland estimates contributes the equivalent of around
£10.8 billion per year to the economy and will likely increase as the population continues to age;
welcomes the large number of employers of differing sizes from a wide range of sectors who have
signed up to support carers in their workplace through the Carer Positive initiative; understands
that Carer Positive is funded by the Scottish Government and was developed in partnership with
public, private and voluntary sector organisations in Scotland; further understands that Carer
Positive employers can progress through three accreditation levels of engaged, established and
exemplary; notes that around 270,000 people in Scotland combine work with care and that,
without support and understanding at work, carers can experience high levels of stress and
exhaustion; recognises the importance of this scheme in supporting carers and employers; further
recognises that this scheme can lead to benefits for employers, such as reduced absences, lower
levels of staff turnover and savings on recruitment costs, and notes that employers across the
Renfrewshire South constituency and Scotland are being encouraged to take steps to become
Carer Positive employers and discover the benefits of supporting their workforce and those who
rely on them.

Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

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