Glossary · UK
What is Carer Passport Scheme?
A voluntary workplace scheme where an employee formally registers as an unpaid carer, giving managers a consistent record of their caring responsibilities and agreed flexibility or support.
Full Definition
A carer passport is a voluntary employer scheme, increasingly adopted following the introduction of the statutory right to Carer's Leave in 2024, that lets an employee formally register with HR or their manager as having unpaid caring responsibilities — for example for a partner, parent, disabled child or other dependant — and record the flexibility, adjustments or support already agreed with the employer, such as flexible start times, occasional remote working, or advance notice of shift patterns. The 'passport' travels with the employee if they change manager, team or even move to a different part of a large organisation, avoiding the need to repeatedly explain and renegotiate their situation from scratch each time. Carer passports are not a legal requirement in themselves but are promoted by charities such as Carers UK and by government guidance as good practice alongside the statutory entitlement to one week's unpaid Carer's Leave per year, helping employers retain experienced staff who might otherwise reduce their hours or leave the workforce entirely due to unsupported caring responsibilities.