Time off for dependants

[Joesync1]

Hi,

I'm having issues with my employer and leave I recently took for time off for dependants.

In the policy for my company it states:

"if the employees child falls ill with chicken pox *then emergency leave will be given to deal with the immediate crisis,for example, to arrange childcare,and not to care for the child throughout the period of illness."

Is this legal? I have checked on ACAS and other sources and they suggest time off for dependants can defiantly be for looking after and caring for a dependant.
*

[Amethyst]

Is that given as an example of how the policy works or do they think children only ever get chicken pox ?

Presumably ( hopefully ) there's a proper time off to care for dependants policy in the contract/handbook/terms of employment and that chicken pox bit is just an example of when it likely wouldn't be acceptable to stay off work other than to make arrangements.

[Joesync1]

Hi,*
No they still say you can't take time off to care for a child in any scenario.*

[Emmzzi]

Here are the acas guidelines.
https://www.acas.org.uk/absence-from-work

they say you can have time off to
*

• arrange care for a dependant who is ill or injured

as that is not the same as doing the caring, it seems your employer is correct.

[ULA]

You are allowed a reasonable amount of time off to deal with the emergency, but there’s no set amount of time as it depends on the situation. So, for example In the case of a child falling ill you could take time off to go to the doctor and make care arrangements however, your employer may then ask you to take annual leave or parental leave if you want to then stay at home and look after your child for longer.

Employers are always advised to have a policy in place for what they expect employees to do in emergency situations involving dependents. The policy that your employer has in place is clear that they will allow time off to deal with the immediate situation but not for the ongoing care. Although unless there is anything further in the policy it does not say that you could not arrange to take annual or unpaid leave. Have you asked them for either of these?