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It’s up to you whether you say anything at work about your caring responsibilities - you don’t have to tell your employer or your colleagues. However, they’re unlikely to be able to give you the support and understanding you need if they don’t know what’s happening.
You’re likely to need to plan some of your time around the needs of the person you’re caring for, which can be difficult and unpredictable. It can be help to talk to your employer about your commitments and concerns.
It may be a good idea to find out more about your employer’s policy for supporting carers before you actually talk to them about your situation. You can do this by checking your contract, reading your employee handbook or intranet, or by talking to the company’s human resources department.
You may then wish to talk to your line manager|, human resources department, or staff or union representative about what your statutory entitlements| are and what other support is available to you from within the company.
Trade unions can provide members with personalised advice and representation on employment issues. If there isn’t a union present where you work, and you wish to join one, you can contact the TUC (Trades Union Congress)| for more information.
Colleagues can often be supportive and sometimes just having someone to talk to can be a real help. You may discover that other employees within the organisation are also carers, and sharing your experiences and the challenges of working while caring can be useful.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.