Caring responsibilities
Caring responsibilities means a responsibility to care for a close family member, including a dependent child, or a sibling or parent with a disability.
Everyone has the right to equal treatment at work, regardless of their caring responsibilities. Here’s an example:
| Lin cares for her brother with muscular dystrophy. Lin recently finished school and applied for work. She told her new boss that she would only be available after 10 am in the morning, as she needs to be at home for her brother in the mornings. The boss said he wouldn’t consider any flexibility for this and told Lin she would have to go on the roster like everyone else. |
If there is no good reason why Lin must be available to work before 10 am, then this is unlawful discrimination. If there is a sensible reason, then it's not.
Caring is hard work. Young people who are carers can access services, like help for their family member, school tutoring and social activities with other carers. See what support is available for young carers.
Last updated on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 17:43.
