FAMILY
EMERGENCY?
YOUR
RIGHT TO TIME OFF (PL506)
Emergencies
happen!
In many cases
you now have the right to take time off work to deal with an emergency
involving someone who depends on you. You can’t be penalised by
your employer for taking the time off, providing your reasons
for taking it are genuine.
So
who counts as depending on me?
Your husband,
wife or partner, child or parent, or someone living with you as
part of your family can all be considered as depending on you.
Others who rely solely on you for help in an emergency may also
qualify.
So
what counts as an emergency?
An emergency
is when someone who depends on you:
- is ill
and needs your help
- is involved
in an accident or assaulted
- needs you
to arrange their longer term care
- needs you
to deal with an unexpected disruption or breakdown in care,
such as a childminder or nurse failing to turn up
- goes into
labour
You can also
take time off if a dependant dies and you need to make funeral
arrangements or attend the funeral.
What
if I know in advance that the problem is going to arise?
The legal
right only covers emergencies. If you know beforehand that you’re
going to need time off, you may be able to arrange this with your
employer by taking another form of leave. If it’s your child that’s
involved, you may be entitled to a period of parental leave (see
How do I find out more).
How
much time can I take off?
As long as
it takes to deal with the immediate emergency. For example, if
your child falls ill you can take enough time off to deal with
their initial needs, such as taking them to the doctor and arranging
for their care. But you’ll need to make other arrangements if
you want to stay off work longer to care for them yourself.
Will
I be paid?
Not necessarily.
It depends on your employer or employment contract. There is no
legal obligation for your employer to pay you for the time you
take off.
How
much notice do I have to give my employer?
You must tell
your employer as soon as possible why you are away from work and
how long you expect to be off. If you return to work before you’ve
had the chance to contact your employer, you must still tell them
why you were absent.
How
do I find out more?
This leaflet
only gives basic guidance. It doesn’t attempt to be a comprehensive
guide and shouldn’t be taken as an authoritative statement of
the law. For more detailed information see www.dti.gov.uk/er/time_off_deps.htm
or call 0870 1502 500 for a booklet explaining Time Off for Dependants
(URN 99/1186) or Parental Leave (URN 99/1193). In Northern Ireland
call 028 90 257678 for a similar booklet or see the Department
for Employment and Learning website.
For further
advice on this or any other employment law matter contact the
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration
Service (ACAS). In Northern Ireland contact the Labour
Relations Agency (LRA).
You
can order a printed version of this document from publications@dti.
Click this button to order a printed version of this booklet.
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