Right to unpaid time off for emergencies?

HalfPint

A question for you?

Regarding the right to time off for dependants....my OH employer has refused him time off to care for our son in the following emergeny situation...failed childcare arrangements...I asked him to ask for 3 hours...or even to finish a couple of hours early..answer was NO. Is this right? can they refuse this? They also refused a collegue of his time off when his lo was rushed to hospital very poorly.

I realise that there is no legal right to "Paid" time off but I thought that legally they had to allow unpaid time of for a dependant in an emergency...am I right..please correct if I am wrong.

HP x

fengirl_2

Yes, there is a right, see this link:
http://www.acas.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1698

Emmzi

yes, note the right is to enable you to make alternate arrangements - so a couple of hours to arrange alternate care is fine; 3 days to do the caring yourself is not.

HalfPint

Thanks for the link...that's what I thought...If he could finish 2 or 3 hours early...I can go to work a couple of hours late...then it's sorted.

ok..so what can we do about it? This is the first time it's happened in 3 years (we've been lucky)...knowing his work, we'll have to suck it...unfair yes...but I'd rather he had a job.

HP x

Emmzi

are they a big company with an HR department? I am guessing not.

Is it the sort of job he can do a bit from home or flexible hours? They may be more amenable to making an arrangement for the future if he can show he has thought through how to minimise the impact to his employer.

Bobl

Is it really an emergency! The fact that you are already at home looking after your child does not create an emergency because you want to go to work. I agree though that his work are being very unflexible.

HalfPint

Emmzi - they are a hugh national organisation, which almost everyone in the uk will know...it's disgusting behavour from this particular company, still a huge thank you goes to my boss who allowed me to take my son into the office, starting later, until my oh finished at 2 to collect him. I worked late to make up the time.

Bobl....yes..it was really an emergency...my childminder was ill. Not her fault, and unforeseen, I'm sure you will agree. I absolutely cannot take time off on a friday unless it is pre-arranged (not going to explain why), I was at home because I had already spent an hour exhausting all possible avenues of care..plus I wasnt due to start til 9am!

stll I've got through the day..my son played happily for most of the time and alls well that ends well...though I shall not ever stick up for said company again...but I will defend their "decent" employees to the hilt. Esp after oh has also today been told that if my mother were to die...he would not be allowed time off to attend the funeral to support me..god forbid if that happens and he still works there...i'll be jailed lol

HP x

Emmzi

it could be that boss is ignorant of the law then - I would ask HR for a copy of the policy. hopefully then you can have a reasonable discussion with boss. Sometimes, the managers just havent been trained very well.