Entitlement to compassionate leave

Starrystarrynight

Perhaps the employer may be prepared to grant the day off if the time was made up elsewhere? It would be so harsh if they refused even a day's unapid leave for a funeral.
Hope things work out ok, OP.

misssarahleigh

3v3 wrote: »

While I agree with your sentiment, I question your logic. Yes, of course you would *want* to attend a g/parents funeral, but, in this economic climate, to do so at the cost of your employment ... *shudders* ... bet your g/parent wouldn't agree with you on that one!

Saying "goodbye" is something you do while the person is alive. You do it in person/via letter/telephone/email if that is an option.

Funerals, however, are a form of "respect" (the deceased does not know if you are there or not); although, it can be cathartic for the bereaved.

Why wait to mention it "unless" something happens? Reading your posts its more a case of "until" not "unless". If "he's bothered", he should be making time/plans now to say his "goodbyes/I love you's". Planned time off an employer can deal with.

If he and his father are so important to the running of the business, that in itself gives them a certain amount of leaway. (think time to interview/replace).

I do hope your oh's G/ma is comfortable and not in distress/pain with whatever it is that ails her. Wishing his father a safe journey tonight!

My apologies but this has tickled me slightly. He cannot say goodbye in person as they will not allow him time off (he is working this weekend as well so would not be allowed to go to Wales). It's also a matter of 'timing'. At what point do you make the journey down to say goodbye? and if this happens to be mid week again, he will not be allowed to go.

I find the idea of writing a letter/email/phone call etc a little odd tbh. When I lost my grandad the night I left him i was pretty sure I had done a good enough job of letting him know how much I loved him and how wounderful he was as a grandad in the last weeks of his cancer, but i shudder to think of what he would have thought had he received a letter from me pointing out I was pretty sure his time was up and sorry your dying (this is how i see it, but i;m sure thats not how you do).

There is also the added complication of her being in the early staged of Alzheimers.

I completely understand you political views on the climate, but I hardley think Britain will fall to it's knee's (or the company) if the OH and father have a few days off. The reason they are not allowed due to staff reasons is purley a matter of management. It would be 'inconvenient' to get somebody else to do the job as they would be 'put out' having to cover. It isn't a matter of the role cannot be managed for a couple of days, it's a matter of his bosses cannot be bothered as it's easier to say no. (The same boss who refuses them uniform/work boots as any budget he hasn't spent during the year is awarded to his as a bonus, which includes the christmas party money they don't see)

3v3 wrote: »

<devils advocate> Just to throw into the debate here: while I do empathise with the 1 (or 2) employee(s) who may be on the cusp of bereavement and wish to attend a funeral; doesn't the "big" picture feature at all? The UK is in astronomical debt; businesses, particularly the SME's, are struggling to keep a stranglehold on their business; the common man in employment is extremely fortunate to have employment (there are plenty out there who will fill their place) and there is no guarantee of future employment opportunities on the horizon ...

... heads up, folks: if you have an ailing relative (and I'm truly not unsympathetic here); the time to say your "Adieu" isn't at the funeral, its now! Jobs are becoming scarce; the economy is ailing and unless you can afford to emigrate to better climes, the cold hard truth is, you are stuck with it!

If you rely on the benefits route to soak up your misfortunes in life - well, the economy is so stretched, that really is going to be hard to draw on!

We've had the luxury of "extended" compassionate leave during the times we were rosey; being excluded from that luxury really is only about 50 yrs (at most!) history.

Abuse the "sickness" route at your own risk: jobs are scarce - never take them as a right; you may find that your boss (whose livelihood depends on his business) is prepared to hire someone else in you stead

Do you honestly think your G/parent (who came from a generation where the breadline/poverty was just a whisker away!) would commend the sacrifice of an honest days pay? My belief is, they would not. If they are sitll around to ask; ask them! If they say otherwise, I'll eat my hat!

If I told my grandma i was attending my grandads funeral because work would not allow she would be shocked and upset but would leave me to my decision. If i were to have done this i personally would not have forgiven myself. The experience was something I will not forget as the people that turned up shared stories, i saw family members i had not seen for a while and we united as a family to stay strong through the hard times. I don't think the funeral is just about respect, but about a way of coping with your grief.

Starrystarrynight wrote: »

Perhaps the employer may be prepared to grant the day off if the time was made up elsewhere? It would be so harsh if they refused even a day's unapid leave for a funeral.
Hope things work out ok, OP.

He doesn't get paid for his overtime although does a lot. What they do is 'bank' his hours so he gets additional holidays (the irony). He currently has 6 days banked (which were buit through overtime in addition to his normal leave) and this is after just taking 7 days off through banked hours.




The issue isn't a case of the employers have a "fair" reason for not letting him go. The problem is they would have to put some effort into managing staff and tbh I think they just like the power they have.