We spoke to a colleague about their experiences, and how support, flexibility and understanding helped them balance work with caring responsibilities.
Trigger warning: This article discusses topics including premature birth and neurological conditions. If these topics affect you, you may wish to refrain from reading further.
Support when it matters most
Caring responsibilities look different for everyone. For some, it’s supporting parents or family members. For others, it’s navigating unexpected journeys into parenthood.
As part of our Moments that Matter, we’re focused on supporting our people through the experiences that shape their lives, inside and outside of work.
That means creating an environment where flexibility, trust and understanding make a meaningful difference when it matters most.
Parenting through uncertainty
When Kayleigh Aldridge, an Audit Manager, had her daughter born prematurely and diagnosed with a neurological condition, everything changed overnight.
Instead of the maternity leave she had imagined, Kayleigh’s early months as a parent were filled with hospital visits, tube feeding and physiotherapy.
Returning to work brought new challenges, but also support.
With her people manager, Kayleigh agreed a flexible nine day fortnight, giving her the ability to balance work with caring for her daughter.
“I wasn’t ready for maternity leave to end. It felt like I never truly got that special time with my daughter,” she says.
“The flexibility allowed me to take my daughter to her physiotherapy sessions.”
At times, returning to work felt isolating.
“The usual conversations about sleep deprivation and childcare felt like they belonged to a different world. I would nod, smile, and laugh, but it didn’t reflect my reality.”
What made the difference was the understanding around her.
Her team created a culture of trust, and her daughter’s nursery adapted too, training staff to support nasogastric (NG) tube feeding, helping make day-to-day life more manageable.
“The trust within the team made all the difference. It was simply understood that I would manage my time and deliver.
The culture around parental leave and return-to-work support here is genuinely fantastic.”
For Kayleigh, that flexibility isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. “Balancing work and caring isn’t always easy, but those moments make it worth it.”
Supporting our carers
Caring for someone can bring many different experiences, and no two journeys are the same.
Whether someone is new to caring or has been doing it for some time, the need for support can change along the way. That’s why we focus on creating an environment where our people feel supported, both practically and emotionally, through every stage of their journey.
Flexibility that reflects real life
Caring responsibilities don’t always follow a fixed pattern. Some situations are long term, while others arise unexpectedly. Through flexible working and open conversations with people managers, we support our people to balance work and care in a way that works for them.
Open conversations and understanding
We encourage our people to talk openly about their circumstances and the support they might need. Whether that’s adjusting priorities or taking time when it’s needed, we believe no one should feel they have to navigate caring alone.
Dedicated time to care
We recognise that sometimes you need dedicated time away from work to support those who rely on you. Our carers leave can be taken in half-day increments, giving you flexibility to use it in a way that fits your circumstances. Colleagues can take up to five days per calendar year and this can be used to care for more than one person if needed.