RSA launches new policy to support staff with caring responsibilities

Authored by RSA

RSA has launched a new Carers’ Policy, to support colleagues with significant caring responsibilities for disabled dependents.  

Under the new policy, colleagues with significant caring responsibilities are now entitled to an additional five days’ paid leave per calendar year on top of their standard annual leave allocation.

The development of the new policy was spearheaded by the RSA Families Employee Resource Group, which aims to champion and promote a culture within RSA where working parents and carers have the support they need to flourish in their working lives and be their best selves at home and work each day.

It was crafted with the help of feedback provided at Carer Cafes (monthly support groups held in offices around the country) and findings from a recent RSA Families’ Survey, which found that many of those with carer responsibilities use annual leave to attend dependents’ medical appointments, assist in or arrange for the care of their loved ones. 

The policy helps recognise that annual leave is essential for everyone and can be used to rest and recharge. It will complement RSA’s existing Carer Cafes and ‘Time-out leave’ Policy, which is currently available to all colleagues and enables them to take a month of unpaid leave for any reason.  

Helen Simpson, Co-chair of RSA Families and HR Advisor, welcomed this news, commenting:

“This is such an exciting, important step forward. We appreciate our colleagues’ generosity and openness in sharing their personal circumstances, which has helped us shape and introduce this policy. We really hope it will have a positive impact on our carer colleagues, as well as the people they are caring for.”