TIME OFF FOR DEPENDANTS POLICY

The law recognises and we respect that there will be occasions when you will need to take time off work to deal with unexpected events involving one of your dependants.
This time off for dependants policy gives all employees the right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to deal with certain situations affecting their dependants.
No-one who takes time off in accordance with this policy will be subjected to any detriment.
This policy does not form part of any employee's contract of employment and it may be amended at any time.
This policy does not apply to agency workers, consultants or self-employed contractors.

All employees have a right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work when it is necessary to:
(a) provide assistance when a dependant falls ill, gives birth, is injured or assaulted;
(b) make longer-term care arrangements for a dependant who is ill or injured;
(c) take action required in consequence of the death of a dependant;
(d) deal with the unexpected disruption, termination or breakdown of arrangements for the care of a dependant; and/or
(e) deal with an unexpected incident involving their child during school hours (or those of another educational establishment).
A dependant for the purposes of this policy is:
(f) an employee's spouse, civil partner, parent or child;
(g) a person who lives in the same household as the employee, but who is not their tenant, lodger, boarder or employee; or
(h) anyone else who reasonably relies on the employee to provide assistance, make arrangements or take action of the kind referred to above. For the right to time off under this policy to arise, it must be necessary for you to take action in relation to a dependant. Whether action is necessary will depend on the nature of the problem, the closeness of the relationship between you, and whether someone else is available to assist. Action is unlikely to be considered necessary if you knew in advance that a problem might arise but didn't make alternative arrangements for a dependant's care. Reasonable time off in relation to a particular problem will not normally be more than one or two days. However, we will always consider each set of circumstances on their facts.

You will only be entitled to time off under this policy if, as soon as is reasonably practicable, you tell your manager:
(i) the reason for your absence; and
(j) how long you expect to be away from work.
If you fail to notify us, you may be subject to disciplinary proceedings under our Disciplinary Procedure for taking unauthorised time off. Where it is possible to do so in advance or when you return to work after taking time off under this policy, we might ask you to provide evidence for your reasons for taking the time off. Suspected abuse of this policy will be dealt with as a disciplinary issue under our Disciplinary Procedure.