Whist lurking on another thread, a question popped into my mind...........

[saythatagain]

One or two posters have mentioned about being entitled to having five days for unexpected child sickness. It this correct? I always taken it as part of my holiday. TIA

[Quootiepie]

You are entitled to five weeks by their fifth birthday if I recall... doesn't have to be paid, but it can't be sackable/taken off your holiday. Parental Leave... you might need to double check that though, I read the website a few months ago. xXx

[saythatagain]

Quootiepie - do you mean 5 days?

[Quootiepie]

weeks... Ill go check for you.

[Quootiepie]

If you?ve worked for the same employer for a year you can take:

13 weeks off work (in total, not per year) for each child, up to their fifth birthday (or up to five years after the placement date of an adopted child)
18 weeks for each disabled child, up to the child?s 18th birthday
Parental leave or paternity leave?
Parental leave is usually unpaid. It?s different from maternity or paternity leave, which is related to the birth of a new baby, and from adoption leave, which applies when an employee adopts a child.

How much parental leave can you take?
Your basic entitlement is 13 weeks? leave (in total, not each year) for each child until their fifth birthday. If the child?s adopted, it?s until the fifth anniversary of their placement with you or until their 18th birthday, whichever comes first.

If your child?s disabled (that is, getting disability living allowance) you have the right to 18 weeks? leave until their 18th birthday.

more here

[Quootiepie]

There is also Emergency leave - not sure how much of that you are allowed...

[Quootiepie]

So, it's 13, not 5!

[saythatagain]

I can just imagine my current employers face when presenting this information to her; she would totally freak.
Considering she is a mother herself, she leaves a lot to be desired in the 'caring' department and of course, has the bonus of being the employer, not employee.
Thanks Quootie

[kinki]

Just to add, I believe that of that 13 weeks Quootie refers to, the employer is only obliged to give you 4 weeks of the unpaid leave in any fiscal year, up to a total of 13 in the child's first 5 years.

We wanted dh to take 13 weeks off so we could do some travelling. But when his employer looked into the legalities and techicalities of it all, all they would allow him was 4 weeks. And that they would honour that every year if he wanted, but no more than 4 weeks at a time. Employer discretion is allowed though.

[smittenkitten]

yes - parental leave must be taken in blocks of one week and is unpaid. you need to request in advance and employer can decline request if an inconvenient time. You are also entitled to reasonable unpaid leave to sort domestic emergencies - to make alternative caring arrangements if yours have fallen through, but not to provide the care yourself.

[kid]

I was told I could only take 3 days off in total. I wish I had known this information at the time, at least I know it now for future reference.

[lackofgravitas]

The short-notice five days that you've read about may well be public sector terms&conditions - it's certainly in my T&Cs, and someone else working for the NHS mentioned it. Paid, and separate from the parent leave mentioned below.

[sarahhal]

These five days are what I believe to be the case in teaching although i've never seen it written formally. I hate having to take time off when they are ill and in teaching it's the only option if don't have family etc as there's no such thing as leave or holiday in term time. I dread them being ill in term time and have actually claimed to be ill myself rather than take a day with them. I know I am entitled to but there's so much bad feeling in certain schools about it (ie my last place!)that I'd rather tell a porky!

[chocolatekimmy]

Time off for dependants (TOFD) covers emergencies/short notice for illness/accidents/sudden breakdown in childcare ect. Has to be a child or dependant and is unpaid. Usually 1 or 2 days to sort out alternative care (if possible) then would expect a reasonable employer to offer holiday or more unpaid leave if necessary. To sort out/deal with initial emergency - doesn't allow for you to take eg: 5 days or longer to stay at home if child has longer illness - just to sort out other care.

No limit on amount of days, open to much abuse as employer can't ask for evidence (or if they do you don't have to provide it). Must follow company rules regarding absence such as notifiying them asap and saying how long you are likely to be off for etc.

[uwila]

Yes, but who is going to take unpaid parental leave when they can take holiday and be paid. It's the same reason men typically take holiday instead of paternity leave.

[kickassangel]

don't assume you are entitled to emergency leave. i'm allowed one paid day per year, then i can apply for any additional unpaid days and/or compassionate leave. the boss who decides on these things is far more compassionate to males or non parents than he is to working mothers.
parental leave does not HAVE to be in blocks of a week, as it states that any part weeks should only be counted as part weeks, not a full week. you have to give 21 days verbal notice & your emplyer can only postpone it if your absence will damage their business, in which case they need to inform you of this in writing. Employers can put local agreements into place which vary in detail, but the 13 weeks is fixed, unless you only work a certain % of the year (i.e. teachers).
Doesn't apply to sea going vessels, but all other industries are covered.
A shame my bosses haven't yet heard of this 'new' law!