How Bauer Media Supports Their Working Carers

The numbers speak for themselves: new research from Carers UK found that 44% of unpaid carers don't feel their role is understood or valued by their community. 

When workplaces aren't carer-friendly, increased strain impacts the mental and physical health of carers - making that care even harder. 

That's why we're proud to work with forward-thinking employers like Bauer Media Group, who are showing what it looks like to truly support working carers. This Carer’s Week, we sat down with them to find out exactly what that support looks like, and why it matters.

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What are you doing to support working carers at your organisation?

At Bauer Media UK, we are committed to supporting colleagues who balance their careers with caring responsibilities. 

In February 2026, we launched KareHero across our Audio and Publishing businesses, and we have seen strong engagement from colleagues who are carers outside of work.

Alongside this, we foster a flexible and supportive working culture, carefully considering flexible working requests and working collaboratively with colleagues to find solutions that meet individual needs. 

We equip our managers with training on flexible working and mental health to help them have informed, supportive conversations with their teams.

We offer a comprehensive suite of mental health resources tailored to employee needs, accessible via our intranet, myBauer.

Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides up to 8 funded counselling sessions, alongside an app offering healthy meal plans, mini health checks, wellbeing videos, and a confidential chat with counsellors. 

It also includes practical support such as management guidance and legal advice, which can be particularly helpful for those navigating the pressures that can come with caring roles.

In addition, we partner with the not-for-profit ImNotOK, a confidential peer-to-peer network connecting employees with trained companions who have lived industry experience, offering non-judgemental, human support.

We also have a strong internal support network of over 80 trained Mental Health First Aiders across the business. These colleagues are available to offer a listening ear, initial support, and guidance on accessing the right services. 

For carers, this can be especially important, as caring roles often come with emotional strain, time pressure, and a sense of isolation that can be difficult to share in professional settings.

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Why does supporting working carers matter to your organisation?

Supporting working carers isn't a standalone initiative for us, it sits at the heart of what Belonging at Bauer means in practice. 

Our commitment is that every person at Bauer Media UK can bring their whole self to work, and that simply isn't always possible if someone is managing caring responsibilities in silence, without flexibility or acknowledgement.

What our own people data has reinforced is that flexibility is one of the most valued aspects of working at Bauer.

Our 2025 People Survey showed we're already performing well above the UK benchmark on work-life balance and our people's ability to manage responsibilities outside of work however, that's not a reason to stop, it's a reason to go further and be more intentional about who that flexibility is actually reaching.

Caring responsibilities disproportionately impact women, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and those managing disabilities or health conditions, all communities we are actively committed to through our Belonging at Bauer Media UK employee resource groups. 

If we're serious about inclusion, we have to be serious about the hidden load that carers carry.

There's also a straightforward business case. 

Retaining experienced, talented people is one of our biggest challenges across the industry. Carers who feel unsupported don't leave loudly, they quietly disengage, reduce hours, or exit altogether. We want Bauer Media UK to be an organisation where people don't have to choose between doing great work and being there for the people they love.

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Are you doing anything specific for Carers Week?

As part of Carers Week, we will be running an awareness campaign across Bauer Media UK to highlight the support available to colleagues with caring responsibilities. 

Through internal communications, we will showcase our benefits, wellbeing resources and external partnerships, including KareHero, helping carers access practical support, guidance and advice. The campaign will also reinforce our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where carers feel recognised and empowered to thrive.

In May, we ran ThriveFest, a month-long programme of wellbeing activities designed to encourage employees to focus on their health and access the support available to them, including spotlighting KareHero during our wellbeing fayre. This gave employees the opportunity to engage directly and confidentially, ask questions about their own circumstances, and explore the support available.

Importantly, initiatives like ThriveFest and Carers Week are part of a much broader, ongoing commitment. 

Supporting carers is not limited to a single campaign or time of year - we continue to provide year-round access to wellbeing resources, employee support networks, and external partners, ensuring colleagues can seek help and guidance whenever they need it, in a way that works for them.

"Many of our Bauer Media UK colleagues balance their work alongside caring responsibilities – a situation that can inevitably lead to challenges. Partnering with KareHero to support our carers, is not only the right thing to do but helps to create and demonstrate that we are and want to be a more inclusive, understanding and compassionate workplace. Our aim is for everyone at Bauer to feel supported, empowered and able to bring their best selves to work, with the right framework in place to provide practical support when it's needed most allowing our people to truly thrive"

Susan Tate People & Culture Director, Bauer Media Audio - UK

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