Time off work due to school closure....can they force me to take unpaid leave or hols

jaffacakes82

pigpen wrote: »

get a sick note for yourself... you can self-certificate for 3 days..

Er... she wasn't sick? :rolleyes: And unless her Company have very short memories they will be aware that she's not there due to the snow.

OP, there's no Law saying Employees are allowed to have a free day off work because they can't get in due to weather, school closures etc, so yes your Company can force you to take the day as holiday or unpaid.

But it all really comes down to the particular Company. Some people may be very lucky (and have very nice Bosses) who let their Employees have the day off. But that it rare and most Companies will require you to take it as holiday, unpaid or if possible to make the time up.

Everyone's in the same boat. Decide what's more important to you, losing the holiday days or the £?

Lakeuk

jaffacakes82 wrote: »

so yes your Company can force you to take the day as holiday or unpaid.

Incorrect, You are entitled to UNPAID leave to deal with an emergency with your young child (ie Nursery closed due to snow), your company can't force you to take the time of as a holiday - taking as holiday can only be done if both employee and employer agree.

Read the DTI guide I posted earlier in this thread, it's all covered in the 1996 Employment Act

clairec79

axomoxia wrote: »

Ahh, I must be getting confused with another thread - my understanding was that the OP worked at the school, and was sent home....

Different thread, this one her work place is open (and within walking distance) but she can't go to work as kids are off school and no child care

xx_Jo_xx

Hi, thanks for all the replies.

I dont get paid when I am sick either, and yes, they would know I wasnt really poorly.

On the Tuesday I had to leave the office to collect LO, the office was closing anyway due to the weather. They were also closed on the Wednesday, as no one could get in. The office was open on Thursday, although everyone else went to a sub office miles away where there was no snow.

On both Wednesday and Thursday I worked from home doing various phonecalls, chasing, set up back office processes etc.....lots of which can still be done from home today. As far as I know I am being paid for those days.

Today however they are saying that they dont have anything else for me to do from home - which isnt true. I could easily work from home again today....as it transpires the school is indeed again closed. I am only supposed to work 9.30 - 3.30 and I am often in before then and very often leave after that - and Ive never once asked for extra. I think Im just a bot disappointed that the flexibility now appears to only work one way. I dont think they would accept making up the hours that way as its already basically 'expected'. If I do actually leave at 3.30, there are raised eyebrows!

I think they are making the point that I am not a home worker - which is fine and they are entitled to do so.

thanks again

Jo xx

xx_Jo_xx

clairec79 wrote: »

this one her work place is open (and within walking distance) but she can't go to work as kids are off school and no child care

Yes thats about the jist of it! I live about 3-4 miles from work, but I could technically walk if my car is still stuck when the school goes back.

zzzLazyDaisy

You are entitled to unpaid leave for family emergencies - such as LO's school being closed due to snow. However that unpaid leave is not for an indefinite period until the school opens again, but just to give you time to make other arrangements to have your child looked after.

jdturk

flexibility should work both ways within a company and if you are starting early and leaving later then maybe stop doing it and when asked raise the point that you don't feel that they were flexible with you.

RobertoMoir

Lakeuk wrote: »

Incorrect, You are entitled to UNPAID leave to deal with an emergency with your young child (ie Nursery closed due to snow), your company can't force you to take the time of as a holiday - taking as holiday can only be done if both employee and employer agree.

Read the DTI guide I posted earlier in this thread, it's all covered in the 1996 Employment Act

A better way of phrasing it is that they can force you to take unpaid leave, but allow you the option to take paid leave out of your leave allowance rather than go unpaid.

Megpixel

Is there some kind of insurance to cover the days off from work due to school closures?

LittleMrsThrifty

Megpixel wrote: »

Is there some kind of insurance to cover the days off from work due to school closures?

There is, it's called a savings account.

I wonder if William Hill would let you place a bet?!

On a more serious note I don't know of any insurance I'm afraid, sorry.