Domestic leave

[user88292823]

My workplace offers domestic leave for emergency situation for staff with dependents. The policy states that your manager may offer 2 days per year paid leave.
I needed to take a day off on Monday due to an emergency and my manager is saying I need to take it unpaid or work the time back.
I know that the policy states may offer pay but I think other staff have been paid before.
I have been with the company for 8 years and never taken domestic leave before.

How can it be an emergency when it’s 5 days away?

It was Monday

Ah ok

So you think that some have been paid
very likely others have not been paid
depends on circumstances

Do they know the circumstances and are classing it as non-emergency?

Yeah they know the circumstances

Ok and the manager has deemed it not something he regards as entitled to be paid.

If you disagree, raise with HR

although I wouldn’t say “I think” someone might have been paid in the past. Hearsay

The first step is to put it in writing and get a written refusal.

Step 1. Write a polite e-mail quoting the policy, the situation, and asking why dependents leave (or whatever it’s called) was refused.

2. If still refused, raise an informal grievance with HR

3. If still refused, raise a formal grievance.

But be aware that going up that chain does risk alienating your manager and making your future more difficult in terms of promotion opportunities ect. Shouldn’t be true but is in practice. So I’d really consider carefully whether you actually want to go past step 1.