Unpaid leave help please

bikeit

My wife goes into the hospital on Friday for an operation and will be in hospital for a least a week,
The doctor advised us that when she returns home someone will need to be with her at all times for a least a week, so as i have used up all my holidays i have no alternative but to take a week unpaid leave.
So i went to the boss yesterday and explained to him the situation but he was totally uncooperative all he kept saying was
"I cannot understand why you need to take any time off for"
So what i would like to know is if i go ahead and take the week off could i be dismissed or disciplined in anyway?

keyser666

Yes you will more then likely be disciplined for unauthorised time off.

bikeit

Jesus im between a rock and a hard place,

theoretica

Do you have an HR department?

Any

"We've been advised by doctor that it is necessary, so we need to plan for it. Now can you please advise whether it is possible or not?"
Basicaly he didn't give you answer either way and you need positive or negative answer to know..

McKneff

So I know what you said he said, but did he say, yes or no.

bikeit

The boss is the HR dept, it is a family run business which employs 30, as for yes or no, all he said was "I cannot understand why you need time off" he went off in a huff, and today he totally ignored me all day when i made attempts to talk to him.

an9i77

Can you put your request to him, politely, in writing, explaining the predicament and offering to take unpaid leave /make your hours up int the future?
If he's the type to walk off in a huff, maybe a letter is a better idea
Then you also have a paper trail if it goes nasty further down the line (hope not)

bikeit

I offered to make up the hours but that was rejected, the boss is a bully and very immature, His attitude is it's my way or the door.

McKneff

bikeit wrote: »

The boss is the HR dept, it is a family run business which employs 30, as for yes or no, all he said was "I cannot understand why you need time off" he went off in a huff, and today he totally ignored me all day when i made attempts to talk to him.

Definitely put a request in writing and tell him you would prefer his answer in writing too.

Could you compromise and have a word with your wife to see if you could take a bit less time off. Do this before doing your letter.

milliemonster

Without prying, are you willing to say what operation she is having? the reason I ask is as a nurse I find it hard to believe why a patient would be discharged following an operation and be told that someone needed to be with them for 24hrs a day for a further week, if it was the case that she needed to be so closely monitored for this length of time then surely she would need to remain in hospital?

What I would do if your employer is unwilling, is go back to the hospital/doctor and say that there is noone available to stay with her for this amount of time, that way they can possibly arrange support for that week if it is necessary or indeed keep her in a few more days before discharge.