can an employer refuse unpaid emergency leave to dash off for a sick child?

[Meglet]

Which is what has just happened. DS has been sent home from school sick, so mum has got him and I need to head off for DD's pick up time.

I asked my boss if I could take 2hrs unpaid, he said I needed to use the last of my annual leave. Which leaves me in a state until 1st april and I know I will need that spare half day for something non-sick child related. If I'm mopping up sick I'd rather not use holiday . really pissed off actually

[LIZS]

is the number of days you can claim per year limited ?

[ChippingInWadesIn]

I don't know where you stand legally, but there are some complete arses out there aren't there :( Sorry to hear DS is ill, hope he's OK later on.

[Meglet]

LIZ that's the thing. I've not asked for unpaid emergency leave in the last 12 months. I've had 2 weeks parental leave before DD turned 5.

As soon as we're all home and settled I'll be searching the direct.gov website.

And I'm a LP so no one to share leave with, hence the reason why I'd rather lose a few quid in pay than waste leave.

[rollonthesummer]

When my DS has been sent home sick in the afternoon-I've taken DD as well-could your mum have done this?

[tabbycat7]

I think if the child is under 6 your employer has to let you take unpaid leave. I might be wrong though!

[tabbycat7]

If they are I'll. Didn't read op properly, sorry

[Meglet]

rollon I don't know. TBH I wouldn't like her day disrupted just because DS is sick.

[Parentingfailure]

I was refused carers/ unpaid/ annual leave when ds was rushed into hospital seriously ill. NHS.
I took it to HR who said it was all at the employers discretion.

[Meglet]

parentingfailure on your behalf.

[NowRising]

This explains a bit but not in detail

www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants/your-rights

[MaxsMummy2012]

Probably not the moral thing to do but if it was me I'd be conveniently 'sick' on the days when I would have needed the annual leave I've just been forced to use ;)

[Picturesinthefirelight]

No they can't. Though in the case if you say being a teacher or doctor or doing a job where there is a significant safety ridk you may have to wait until someone can come to cover you And it covers all dependents too, not just children so for example elderly dependent relatives b

[Meglet]

nowrising that's the page, thank you.

pictures I'm just a mere administrator. I don't need to answer the phones either.

I'm terrified of confrontation but I want to stand my ground on this.

[HermioneWeasley]

You are entitled to unpaid leave to make alternative caring arrangements. 2 hours seems reasonable to me.

[Speccymummy]

You have a statutory entitlement to take Time off for Dependants. It is intended to deal with emergencies such as you describe that involve a dependant such as a child or elderly relative. It is only meant to be for a day or two. It is unpaid, unless the employer chooses to pay. It could be your manager isn't aware of your right to this leave. Have you got an HR department? If not the Acas site has a useful page on this right.

[Meglet]

speccy we have an HR dept (medium size company). I will speak to them tomorrow. I hope it's more that by boss doesn't understand the right to time off for dependents, although he said that HR want staff to use annual leave before taking unpaid leave. .