Phoenix : calls on Government to accelerate legislation on statutory Carers Leave to provide greater support for employed carers, on ‘Carers Rights Day’

26th November 2020

Phoenix Group calls on Government to accelerate legislation on statutory Carers Leave to provide greater support for employed carers, on 'Carers Rights Day'

Andy Briggs, Government Business Champion for Older Workers and Business Champion for the Ageing Society and FTSE 100 CEO of Phoenix Groupcomments on Carers Rights Dayon the importance of businesses prioritising the rights of working carers. He says;

"Employed carers should not have to choose between continuing to work and caring for loved ones. Just like working parents, working carers face ongoing challenges as a result of their commitments and need specific support. As we recognise the important role of all carers on Carers Right Day and the additional pressure many face due to the pandemic, we call on the Government to accelerate legislation on five days statutory Carers Leave for those carers who want to continue to work, while caring for someone who depends on them.

"Rights for working carers have long needed to be formalised, and in light of COVID-19 it is more important than ever that business leaders embrace greater flexibility around working hours and put solid support in place for employed carers. I further urge all business that can, to make Carers Leave paid leave, to relieve some of the pressures employed carers face and enable them to continue in current employment."

Carers Rights Day 2020is on Thursday 26th November.

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Enquiries
Rachel Esland	Leonie Garfield
PR and Public Affairs Manager	Account Director
Phoenix Group	Lansons
07892 205093	07530 626212
[e-mail]	[e-mail]

Notes to editors

Andy Briggs is CEO of PhoenixGroup and the Government's Business Champion for Older Workers. He is als o the Government Champion for the Ageing Society Grand Challenge, part of the modern Industrial Strategy. In these roles he represents business views to Government on ageing issues, building greater understanding of the barriers in order to overcome the challenges and promote the opportunities, with the ultimate aim of creating an economythat works for everyone, regardless of age.

About Phoenix Group

Phoenix has become the UK's largest long -term savings and retirement business following the completion of the ReAssure acquisition and is also the largest consolidator of closed life and pension funds in Europe.

Phoenix has businesses in the UK, Germany and Ireland, split across three key business segments: UK Heritage, UK Open and Europe.           

The Group specialises in the acquisition and management of closed life insurance and pension funds (its Heritage business).  Phoenixis a leader in the safe and efficient management of UK Heritage business. The UK Heritage segment comprises products that are no longer actively marketed to customers and has been built through the consolidation of over 100 legacy insurance brands.

In addition, Phoenix's UK Open business manufactures and underwrites long -term savings and retirement products to support people saving for their future. These products are actively marketed to new and existing customers, primarilyunder the Standard Life brand. This segment is underpinned by a strategic partnership with Standard Life Aberdeen following the Phoenix Group's acquisition of Standard Life Assurance Limited in 2018. Standard Life Assurance is a long-established expert in workplace pensions, personal pensions, long term savings and retirement solutions, and its customers and clients include individual savers and some of the larges t employers in the UK, as well as professional advisers. The UK Open business includes a growing

BPA business. Phoenix Group also has a market leading brand - SunLife - which sells a range of financial products specificallyfor the over 50s market. 

The European business spans a range of both Open and Heritage products across three segments: Ireland, Germany and the International Bond in the UK. Our focus is on protecting our existing assets, optimising sales and driving efficiencies, which enables us to maximise value in these businesses and provides a platform for potential future consolidation in Europe.

Phoenix Group is a member of the FTSE 100 index, and has circa 14 million policies and over £300 billion of assets under administration.