How long is acceptable to be off work

If he's on a zero hours contract then surely he can take whatever time he wants off as the employer won't have to pay him. He let them know and didn't just not show up. If they are difficult with him, then he should push for them to give him a proper contract which protects both sides with specific rules. They can't have it both ways though I'm sure they'll try.

Oh that's so sad. I'm so sorry for him. Thank you for understanding it's a horrible time to lose a parent. Even worse for him if it was his mum. X

Public sector makes up their own rules

This is all my work would allow for a grandparent. It used to be very lax. They didnt mind and it was very much "as long as you need" then someone took 4 months off for an aunt that they had only met 5 times in their life.

After that they had a policy put in. Immediate family (mum/dad/partner etc) still lax
Anyone else, 1 day for the funeral and then take it as holiday or unpaid leave.

Have you asked him what was said? When he called them to say he was going to be off as his granddad had died, did his boss say “okay no problem, hope you’re okay, see you Tuesday” or did they say “absolutely not, you must come in immediately.” If it’s the former, he has nothing to worry about. If it’s the latter, then maybe he has a problem. But I doubt it, it’s probably just a return to work meeting, we always have to have them if we’ve been off.

My husbands mum died when he was 11 and he wasn't allowed to go to the funeral. I know how much it's affected him and am so sorry you had to go through that.🙁

1 day

I suspect it's just a standard return to work interview. 2 days would be reasonable anywhere I've worked.

I was allowed 5 days after my father's suicide. Just madness. It took me about 8 months to be anywhere near competent. I say take what you need.

If ur a Mum , who work anyway ?

A couple of days max.

No wonder the NHS is not fit for purpose.

Funeral day only

For clarity. I was reacting to this post. It was just a passing comment as I didn’t feel that part of the policy was particularly generous.

I appreciate it’s the internet and people are sometimes rude but I do think we should treat others like we would in real life (hopefully not quite so abrupt). There’s no need for impoliteness when someone hasn’t behaved in that way towards you.

I was responding to a previous poster. Please try to be polite.

Is he going to he requesting further time off for the funeral? Maybe that’s what they want to discuss?

It would also be good practice to have a return to work check in, if handled compassionately.

Unless the one making funeral arrangements, for a grandparent, a day for the funeral would be the norm. I don’t personally think that’s great if you were very close.

I wouldn't expect any more than the day of the funeral TBH.

If you've a crap employer with ridiculous rules it might be the only way to address issues.

As for GPs issuing fitnotes without seeing patients, that's a GP problem.

Maybe it's time employers thought more about the consequences of their company model if it's causing employees to take drastic action and go off sick.

Interesting item on Radio 4 this am. Over 11million “ fit notes “ issued last year. An increase of 800000 over last 6 years. GP who was interviewed said it is v hard for GPs to say no, this often results in complaints and breakdown of patient doctor relationship. Notes can be issued digitally without the patient even being seen. Mental health and stress main listed reason. Often due to conflict in the workplace. Again, how sustainable and how appropriate a way of addressing in work issues is this?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20lew24kngo

You're confusing two issues here. You are quite right that mental health services are terrible. Nobody can argue with that.

But, it's equally not appropriate to expect a company to support an employee for that amount of time. It simply isn't sustainable for most businesses, particularly SMEs.

The answer to mental health problems is not for the sufferer to live a life of being on sick leave.

I'm really glad that in my jobs my managers have always just used their discretion and not given two hoots about the official policy. . I would have been expected in to work the day after my best friends husband hung himself, despite having stayed up all night with her waiting for the funeral director to remove him, help her with the kids etc,.as well as my own grief. Thankfully I called my manager in the morning and he just said, see you next week, let me know how you're getting on.

I've had great mangers and I'm so grateful as they've really influenced how I manage people.

If the meeting is total crap since he’s worked those house consistently for so long, with those hours - he needs to ask for advice about whether he’s really an ‘employee’ - perhaps ACAS? And I think he’s a bit better protected having been there over 2 years.

I was given 5 days + day of funeral but that was because I was next of kin and extremely emotionally close to my grandparent (all their children already dead) and I was the one making all the arrangements, there in her last days and dealing with her affairs when she lived at a distance.

If it had been a circumstance where I had a parent or somebody else dealing with everything I would have perhaps expected one day for any potential bedside visit pre-death if a sudden call to attend and one for the funeral.

Day / pm for the funeral

Wow that’s harsh! Did you know her relationship with her grandparents or her upbringing, what her grandparent contributed! Be kind