Civil servant - dependant leave

[Environmentaljob]

My child was unable to go to school recently as he was unwell, D&V.

I needed to take a day off. After informing work, I was asked to take the day as short notice annual leave.

My child is very rarely unwell. When they are, I can usually work from home.

On this occasion, I was unable to due to being up all night with them.

I know other civil servants who have been able to use dependant leave in similar circumstances.

Is there any reason why I couldn't use dependant leave in this situation? I'm not sure if I'm entitled to it. I've been a civil servant for 7 years and I've used dependant leave 3 times for a maximum of 2 days in this time whilst I sorted alternative childcare.

My worry is that I have booked all my annual leave this year and if I need to use it for child sickness, I will have to give up more leave and struggle for childcare for an unwell child!

I believe its usually managers discretion. Did you ask for it?

It varies by department. I don’t think it applies in my department for example, but I think DLUHC get 15 days or something.

I've always used annual leave or flexi leave in these circumstances but I think of you didn't have enough of either to cover they would consider special leave but I'm my place that would really be a lay resort or if it was a longer illness such as chicken pox or anything more serious

I'm civil service and it's always been the policy that you get dependants' leave only if you have no annual leave to take. I think that's fair

Could you take unpaid leave? It's not ideal but might be an alternative

Depends on the department. The special leave policy where I work is the most generous I've seen (across 5 depts I've worked in), but many of the generous categories are at manager's discretion so not an entitlement. some are an entitlement of up to x days and give the qualifying criteria. Some are x days paid then unpaid.

Check the policy and see what it says, and go from there.

The team I used to work in had a culture when I joined that we should cover every absence with special leave because they thought annual leave was just there so people could go on holiday. Literally if they weren't going away they expected their time off to be special leave for the most ridiculous things and the previous management allowed it. I was told by one employee I had to cover their sickness absence with special leave because they had been off for six months, exhausted their full sick pay, returned to work, got a bad cold and couldn't afford to live off half pay 🤷🏽‍♀️ Once we rooted out the problem It ruined it for everyone else really, now we are really strict on it! You might have booked your leave for the year but just have a think about how you would cover an emergency eg your pipes burst or your front door falls off, not your employer's responsibility to pay for your time off.

How on earth is that fair? They should either give dependents leave or not.

I think it's unlikely that you'll get this as if they opened that door, they would have to give it to everyone who's child was off sick from school.
Annual leave or unpaid where I work

I'm not saying it's fair, I'm just saying that this is what happens

Thank you all. Your replies make sense! I completely understand how special or dependants leave can be abused.

I've had a work with my manager (who is fantastic by the way) and we've agreed to use my flexi leave.

In hindsight, I'm happy with this decision because pre-covid, I wouldn't be able to work from home.

Even though I couldn't on this occasion, it made me remember the many times in the last couple of years I've had to work from home with unwell children without it affecting my absence/sick record.

Thank you again for all of your replies!

@Polarbearyfairy your reply got my head right in particular by the way. Thank you x

I just use flexi leave and go negative if needed, can always build it back up in my own time then