It’s been widely reported that businesses up and down the country received calls from employees asking for compassionate leave following Zayn Malik’s departure from One Direction this week.
There’s no doubt the World’s No. 1 boy band have legions of loyal fans who feel some sort of personal connection to its five members but where is the line drawn?
From a legal perspective, it’s quite simple. Employment law states employees are entitled to time off for emergencies involving dependants or immediate family.
A dependant is someone who relies on you for care and could be a spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or someone else living in your household.
The law states compassionate leave can be taken if an employee’s dependant dies or suffers a life-threatening or serious illness or injury. The specifics of what is classed as an emergency and how much paid time off you can take are at the discretion of your employer or in your company handbook. Most employers are fair and will allow you time off for a genuine, unforeseen emergency such as to collect a sick child from school.
A grown man of no relation to you voluntarily leaving his job does not qualify for compassionate leave. In this instance you can, if you wish, allow your employee to take unpaid holiday for their absence.
If you are an employer and receive what you believe to be an unreasonable request for compassionate leave from an employee you can seek advice from our Oldham employment solicitors.
Please call Partner John Porter and the Wrigley Claydon employment law team on 0161 624 6811.
John Porter
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