General Chat

My hubby is having an eye operation on Wednesday which means that, for 2 or 3 days, he will need someone at home with him. As I work full time I applied to my employer (local gov't) for special/compassionate leave but I've heard this morning that this has been refused. They say I can take the time off but it would have to be without pay. I feel quite upset about this - I'm a conscientious employee with a good attendance record and this decision has left me feeling very unsupported and unappreciated. I wish now that I'd not asked and just taken sick leave. I'd welcome any views - perhaps I expected too much ?

I did work for local government some time ago but can't remember the rules re Compassionate leave. i think you would have got one or two days paid leave with MOD (civil service). It maybe depends on your personnel (HR) and how they interpret the rules. You should have a copy of your conditions of service. What does it say regarding compassionate leave? Maybe you have a right of appeal. Ann Glos

Hi Ann yes I checked the rules for compassionate leave and it states that in the case of a serious illness, leave is granted at the discretion of your Director. I know temporary blindness is not a serious illness per se but my view is that it is a short term serious condition. I have just submitted an appeal to the Chief Exec so will wait to see what his views are. many thanks.

good luck with the appea. Do you belong to your union? (Unison?) If so the rep should be able to taake it up if you can't get anywhere. It may not be a serious illness but you are asking for 3 days not three weeks. Perhaps you could get a compromise, you take 1 day unpaid and they give you two paid. Or could you aske to work extra hours for a couple of days when he is better, say an hour extra a day for a couple of weeks. (That is all else fails) they should be more flexible. are you on flexi time by the way? if so could you utilise that? Ann Glos

I really think it is all down to your line manager. My boss was wonderful when my Mum was dying of cancer. I'm on flexi time and went hugely into minus figures and managed to 'borrow' some of next years leave. I also got sent home when I was distraught because I had found out that Mum's cancer was inoperable and was never asked to make up the time. My boss said that my Mum was much more important than work. As for compassionate leave, I had a week when Mum died, the standard policy is 3 days, 5 at the discretion of your line mamager. Jack x

Thanks Ann & Jack I am on flexi time but the maximum you can take in a 4 week period is one day. And Unions here are worse than hopeless. I would have been fine with a compromise - part compassionate leave, part unpaid. It is the flat refusal and inflexible attitude that bothers me most. As you say Ann, I'm only asking for 3 days. I've worked in local gov't for 17 years and it's not as if I'm always asking for special treatment. I just feel so let down really.

Is it the director who had made the decision or head of HR? Maybe you got them on a bad day. Serves them right if you went off sick with stress now! Ann Glos

..that thought did flit across my mind Ann.......

I must admit I'm a bit gob smacked here because wouldn't this fall under 'Care of a dependant' rather than compassionate leave? And if it does then I am fairly sure they can't refuse you paid leave of 3 days.

SORRY I WAS WRONG BUT THIS MAY HELP..... All employees have the right to take a reasonable amount of time off to deal with family emergencies. Such absences are unpaid unless the employer agrees otherwise. The rights apply only to those providing care to a dependant which includes the employee’s spouse, parents, children, or another person living in the same household who is not a tenant, boarder or lodger. Additionally, the right extends to any person who reasonably relies upon the employee for the purpose of providing assistance or making arrangements. Family emergencies include instances connected with the death, illness or injury of a family member, or where a dependant gives birth. The right also exists where an unexpected disruption has arisen in relation to care arrangements for a dependant, or where an incident occurs involving the worker’s child at school. You must inform your employer of the reason for your absence as soon as possible, as well as when you expect to return to work. You can bring a claim against your employer for unreasonably refusing to allow you to take time off.

The absence mentioned in the above para I believe means if it is truly an emergency - ie that you do not have any notice for - getting up in the morning and your child is ill and you have no care for them as they have to stay off school - but during that absence you would be expected to find alternative arrangements. Tracy x

If the CC is anything like my company, then don't expect too much. Last year we were given a glossy pamphlet extolling the fact that the company was a caring employer and would consider any request for compassionate leave favourably. what they then went on to say in the small print was that 1. you first had to use up unused flexitime 2. then you had to use up holidays 3. then you might get unpaid leave 4. only in cases of extreme hardship would you get paid leave. About the only thing they would not do is stop you from having the time off... Most people I know just phone in sick.