Time off for Dying Relative?

KizzyK_2

Hi,
I’m just looking for some advice of the following situation. My dad works for a medium size electrical firm (not a brand like Currys) and has been there for over a year. He’s not had excesses time off and does the work he is employed to do, to a high standard.

His mother (my nan) was taken ill on Thursday night, got worse on Friday night and is now in hospital dying. We are all on tenterhooks and when we’re not at the hospital, we’re waiting for that call which could some anytime. He’s going to write a letter for his work informing them of this (if he gets a call from the hospital to say its nearly over he has got to leave work to be there) but he has been really worried about what his work will say or more to the point if they say something along the lines of “You can go but if you do your fired”

Ive looked up compassionate leave on direct.gov.uk, and I think that it comes under ‘Time off for dependants’, but I was hoping that someone else has been in a similar situation and can give advice or tell me if they can fire him?

Thanks

dawnybabes

Sorry to hear this - I used to work for a company who just allowed this sort of time off but then we got took over and a colleagues dad died and he was allowed 2 hours unpaid leave for the funeral all the rest had to come from holidays or unpaid !!

ilovemycats

There was a similar case to this a few years back that was reported on the news. Something about a young lad working for a furniture company or something, who took a week off or something when a relative died, I think it was his Dad.

To cut a long story short they simply sacked him outright. And in the weeks that followed ended up re-employing him again after it was dragged through the media.

If I was your Dad I'd simply go. There are plenty of companies out there. Yet you only have one mother. If the company says no then I'd do it anyway. There's more important things in life than money.

Slightly similar lines, as in unavoidable situations. I was working for a supermarket as a student, and our tenancy had come to an end since the others weren't re-signing. The options I had was to get another house asap or move back home to my parents. The latter being no job as I'd be 200-miles away. This daft manager would NOT budge, no I couldn't have a couple of days off to get a house sorted out and move. So I did it anyway. He went beserk, phoning me up every hour threatening this and that, phoning my parents up back at home. So I took a whole week off and got a house all sorted out and moved.

When I got back a week later I was given a written warning to which my response was, "You're an !!!!!! Mark!" Never affected anything. We're only talking about some pedantic supermarket thinking they're going to rule the world by the end of next month if they do everything right.

Hope it all works out.

brazilianwax

There is no statutory entitlement for time off, but I think most employers will hav something written in their staff handbook/terms and conditions.

Your dad needs to find out what his company's policy is.

brazilianwax

Incidentally, my granddad died at Christmas when I was on holiday from my part-time bar job. We came home between Christmas and New Year to get clothes etc, and I called into the pub to tell the manager I wouldn't be around for New Year and that I was sorry.

He gave me a tirade of abuse and told me that if I wasn't there at New Year I wouldn't have a job to go back to.

I went to my granddad's funeral without a second thought, and when I got home I rang customs and excise to report him for tampering with the booze.

Nice bit of serendipity, because when I went in to drop off my uniform I was chatting to a couple of regulars when the customs inspectors arrived and started testing the booze!!!! (They are not at all subtle!)

He got a prison sentence and I got another job!!

I hope it doesn't come to that with your dad, and that he has more understanding employers.

jobbingmusician

brazilianwax wrote: »

There is no statutory entitlement for time off,.

Sorry to prove you wrong, brazilianwax, but I am glad to say you ARE wrong. (I'm sure you'll be glad to hear this too). OP is correct in assuming that there is a statutory entitlement to dependants' leave. - Oooo, I've just realised the OP already knows this, as it is the same link as he has used.

OP, your dad will be safe if you let his employer know, and estimate how long he will be off. Get him to ring them tomorrow to let them know, and keep them informed. It is a good idea to check his contract - he may be entitled to this time as paid compassionate leave, with any luck. Alternatively his employer may let him use some of him annual leave so that he doesn't suffer financially.

I do have experience of administering this as an employer, but in the voluntary sector where we are traditionally more understanding to employees. But I am sure that if anyone keep their employer informed of what is going on, they would not have a case for disciplining or sacking the employee!

brazilianwax

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Sorry to prove you wrong, brazilianwax, but I am glad to say you ARE wrong. (I'm sure you'll be glad to hear this too). OP is correct in assuming that there is a statutory entitlement to dependants' leave. - Oooo, I've just realised the OP already knows this, as it is the same link as he has used.

OP, your dad will be safe if you let his employer know, and estimate how long he will be off. Get him to ring them tomorrow to let them know, and keep them informed. It is a good idea to check his contract - he may be entitled to this time as paid compassionate leave, with any luck. Alternatively his employer may let him use some of him annual leave so that he doesn't suffer financially.

I do have experience of administering this as an employer, but in the voluntary sector where we are traditionally more understanding to employees. But I am sure that if anyone keep their employer informed of what is going on, they would not have a case for disciplining or sacking the employee!

Apologies - I meant statutory entitlement to paid time off. Sorry for confusing this.

Your advice is good though!

KizzyK_2

Thanks for all your reply's

Its at the point now where my dad doesn't care about the money (and tbh hes looking for another job with shorter hours than what he does now) but is worried about what the firm can say/do to him.

I'll get him to sort out his contract when he gets home and see what it says.

inkie

Hi KizzyK - thinking about you and your dad at the moment. I would say that this is a stressful time for you all, but for him in particular - does your dad have a sympathetic GP? Saves all the hassle of wrangling with the employer about time off etc...

RibenaBerry_2

As discussed above, there's no statutory entitlement to paid time off. However, since he's been at the company over a year, they would have to have a fair reason to dismiss him. If he keeps them updated on what's going on and doesn't take excessive time (e.g. harsh as it may sound, if it is likely to be weeks and months, the company is probably within its rights to say that you cannot have all that time off), I think he'll be fine. They should also look favourably on a request to take some of the time as holiday, if he has any left, so that he can get paid.

As others have said, the company may even have paid compassionate leave. I know that we don't officially at work, but people who have been good, reliable employees are often quietly given some..

jobbingmusician

Also, tell your dad from me that he's worrying about this too much - this is because he's generally upset. Take it from all of us that this really is the law, that his employer can't victimise him in any way because he has to have this time off, and that (speaking as an employer) this happens to employers all the time and they are used to it.

All the very best to you and all your family at this sad time.