This position paper looks at the potential economic and social impacts of adding an entitlement to extended unpaid leave to the National Employment Standards.

The paper finds that such an entitlement would benefit some carers and improve the quality of care provided to some older people, however it would impose costs on employers. Extended unpaid leave is also not the highest priority for the majority of carers. Other policies — especially better access to flexible work — would make a bigger difference for more carers.