The equality gap in caring

Every day, unpaid carers across the UK are doing essential work. They’re helping loved ones eat, wash, get dressed, get to appointments. They’re managing medication, finances, and emotional wellbeing. Many are juggling this with full-time jobs, parenting, or studying. And somehow, they keep going.

But here’s the big thing - caring isn’t equal.

Unpaid carers contribute around £162 billion a year to the UK economy. That’s more than we spend on the entire NHS. 
Around 3 in 5 unpaid carers are women, and they’re far more likely to reduce their working hours, give up promotions, or leave their careers altogether to provide care.

And perhaps most worrying: 72% of carers have experienced mental ill-health as a result of their role. Not stress. Not just “tiredness.” Real, chronic impacts on their mental wellbeing.

And yet, so much of this happens behind closed doors.

There’s no official job title. No payslip. No structured support in most workplaces. Carers just make it work—because they have to. And because love, responsibility, and necessity often leave no room for choice.
 

These statistics are not just a number, they are a representation of many people’s lives. One of those people is Priya – a women facing hardships through caring. 

Here is her story: 

Priya was a bright, driven project coordinator at a mid-sized tech firm. She loved her job and took pride in her work. But outside the office, she carried a heavy responsibility - she was the primary carer for her elderly father, who was living with Parkinson’s disease.

Each morning, Priya would help her father with his medication and morning routine before rushing to work. Her evenings were filled with hospital visits, paperwork, and emotional support. Despite the toll it took, she rarely spoke about it at work. There was no space for it - no policy, no conversation, no recognition.

When her father’s condition worsened, Priya asked her manager if she could adjust her hours or work from home a few days a week.

The response was curt: “We all have personal issues, Priya. We need you here.” There was no carers  leave to fall back on, no flexibility, and no understanding.

She tried to keep up, but the cracks began to show. She was exhausted, anxious, and constantly worried. The company’s mental health resources were generic and didn’t address the unique stress of carers. Her manager dismissed her concerns. “You’ve been distracted lately,” he said during her performance review.

Priya felt trapped. There was no safe way to disclose her situation without risking her career. She watched as colleagues without caring responsibilities were promoted ahead of her. She felt invisible.

Eventually, the pressure became too much. Priya resigned.

Months later, she found a new role at a company that had a clear, inclusive carers policy. They offered flexible hours, carer leave, and even peer support groups. For the first time, Priya felt seen - not just as an employee, but as a whole person.

Without inclusive, flexible, and supportive policies, carers like Priya face burnout, inequality, and are often forced to leave. But with the right support, they can thrive - both at work and at home.
 

To show the mental load people like Priya face, we’ve created a graphic called “A Day in the Life of a Carer – The Invisible Load.”

It’s a visual snapshot of what so many carers are holding together—often silently. From the morning medication prep, to balancing meetings and GP calls, to emotional support or interrupted sleep. All on top of looking after their own wellbeing. It shows how caring doesn’t fit neatly around the edges of a working day.