ISO 25551 - Ageing societies - General requirements and guidelines for carer-inclusive organizations

The objective of ISO 25551 is to help organizations create supportive working environments for carers in the workplace. Workers can be considered a carer if they provide unpaid care or assistance to an elderly relative, child with long-term care needs, close friend, or partner, while engaging in paid employment. These working carers can have difficulties balancing their caring role with work responsibilities, leading to negative consequences for themselves, their co-workers and employer, and the economy more broadly.

This document provides guidelines for, and outlines a process for, the development of supportive policies and actions to achieve a carer-inclusive workforce. A carer-inclusive workforce has the potential of adding value for organizations/employers, carer-workers, other workers, communities and a wide range of associated stakeholders. While each workplace is different, and organizations will need to tailor their carer-friendly workplace programs to fit the needs of their workforce and industry, the Standard provides a set of guiding principles and practical solutions.

This project was initiated in 2019 and was published in November 2021. Working Group 3 was developing this standard with experts from Canada, USA, Singapore, United Kingdom, China, Finland, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Ireland, Australia, and Uganda. France, Germany, Japan were observing the work.

For more information you can view a submission poster created by the leadership of the WG.

Click here for an information flyer and a flyer on ISO 25551 and the SDGs is also available here.

The convenor of this work item recently gave an interview which you can listen to here.

Allison Williams acts as convenor of WG 3

Jeanne Bank acts as the secretary of WG 3

Contact the committee manager for more information.