Dentsu UK&I has unveiled its first ever dedicated emergency carers policy to coincide with Carers Week this week.
The ‘big six’ agency’s policy aims to support UK employees with caring responsibilities who are unexpectedly faced with an emergency or a particularly difficult period related to caring for loved ones.
The policy provides up to two weeks of paid leave per year, on top of annual leave, recognising the huge impact caring can have on an individual’s life. It also gives line managers guidance on how to help team members with caring responsibilities and sets out a wide range of emotional and practical support carers can access both within Dentsu and through external sources.
The initiative’s creation follows research from Dentsu that found that one in eight adults in the UK are carers, equivalent to 6.5 million people. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, 9% of carers have left their place of work to look after those in need.
READ MORE: Dentsu wins Network of The Year for sixth time at Adfest 2022
“Creating a caring and inclusive environment where our people can thrive is of the utmost importance at dentsu,” Dentsu UK&I chief people officer, Anne Sewell, said.
“We hope this new policy provides reassurance for our carers and removes the challenges of juggling work and caring responsibilities should they find themselves in an emergency situation so they can focus on their loved ones.”
The news comes as many other creative agencies continue to develop schemes that nuture and support their colleagues’ well-being. Last month Omnicom-owned Adam and Eve/DDB introduced a ‘Four&Flex’ model that encouraged staff to come into the office four days a week.
Merkle vice president of customer experience Sarah Painter, who was involved in the creation of the new policy added: “This policy is such a relief to have in place.”
“While I always work flexibly to accommodate my caring needs, knowing this safety net is there eases the anxiety around combining caring and work. It gives me a chance to accurately log time off for appointments and gives me peace of mind that when the next emergency arises, I can put my full attention on my daughter’s needs.”
Click here to sign up to Marketing Beat’s free daily email newsletter
