YouAsk Kim
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Together · 20 min · For caregivers

Find out what your workplace offers

Before you need it, find out what your workplace already offers for caring, illness and flexible hours, and keep it in one note.

20 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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Many workplaces have policies on flexible hours, time off for emergencies, leave for caregivers or support for staff, and many people only find out about them in a crisis, if at all. Looking them up on a calm day means you know your options before you need them.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Find your staff handbook, intranet or employment contract, and look for anything on flexible working, leave, emergencies, caregivers, sickness and employee support.

  2. Write a short note of what you find: what is offered, how to ask, and who to ask.

  3. If anything is unclear, ask human resources or a manager you trust, in writing if you can, and keep the reply.

  4. Look up what rights to flexible working or time off for caregivers apply where you live, from an official government or advice service.

The reason

Why it helps

Knowing what is available, and how to ask, turns a frightening moment into a request with a known process. Workplace policies can go further than the legal minimum, and some only apply if you ask. A written note saves you searching again when you are stretched.

A gentle variation

If you work for yourself or on short contracts, look instead at what support applies to self-employed people where you live, and note the advice services you could call.

One hand resting over another on a wooden table

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

If you know other caregivers at work, share what you find. If you belong to a union or a staff network, ask whether they have guides for caregivers.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

Today, search your staff handbook or intranet for the words for caring or flexible working, and write down one thing you find.

Add it to your day

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