Full time carers are unrepresented under the current employment status options. When required to fill out forms and applications our only (irrelevant) choices are unemployed, home maker or dependent spouse. These options disregard, undermine and completely ignore an entire, very large, vital part of society and destroys our financial credibility when applying for services.

Carers UK state that 1.3 million people provide over 50 hours of care per week with many of us caring for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also state that carers save the economy £132 billion per year. Not recognising this work as a valid employment status is wholly discriminatory against the essential work that we do.

The Department for Work and Pensions does already recognise that full-time caring, 35 hours or above, is equivalent to full time paid employment as full time carers are not required to seek additional employment.  Under the Equality Act 2010 ‘it is illegal to discriminate against a carer because of their responsibilities as a carer, or because of the individual(s) they care for. This law applies to discrimination and harassment if they happen in your work place and will also protect you as a carer when you shop for goods’. However, if we are unable to identify ourselves as a carer how can we be protected by this law?

I therefore petition the Department for Work and Pensions to legally require every company in the UK to recognise caring as a valid employment option and to add ‘full time carer’ to their list of employment options. Companies should be legally bound to provide the same financial/credit/other entitlements as those of 'employed' status and be held accountable for any discriminatory decisions against full time carers.