Sainsbury’s Collegue advice

[Mani11]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask, so sorry if it’s not related, but I really need some advice.
I’ve worked for Sainsbury’s for more than 5 years and I’ve never asked for anything like this before.
I have 4 days of holiday left, which I need to keep for my kids’ school holidays and some special family days.
At the moment I have some personal family circumstances and I’d like to ask for 3 weeks unpaid leave. Is this something that can be allowed? Also, do I need to explain the full reason to my manager, or can I just say it’s for personal family circumstances?
Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Are you in a supermarket or a local store. Obviously in a supermarket they have more staff to cover. If it is personal reasons I can't see why not. It might help if you explain the reasons so they understand why. You may need to put it writing to request that long. Do you have a line manager that you could ask advice from.
You don't need to say but If you are struggling to cope from bereavement or caring for a relative who is ill we have had colleagues that have been signed off work by the doctor so have been paid.

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave/entitlement

There is parental leave but I would imagine sainsburys has other leave options also, given its size.

Do you know where on the staff app or portal you can access the policies for time off?

As OP said, you could ask your manager.

No idea. But there will be guidance on your work intranet about unpaid leave. Maybe start there.

Thank you for your advice. I’m going through a difficult time right now because my sister is going to have surgery(she is not living with me but as she has baby I need to go to her city and stay with her), and I’m not feeling mentally okay myself. I don’t really want to get a doctor’s note for mental health reason.

There's no automatic legal right to unpaid leave in most circumstances, so it comes down to Sainsbury's policy and your manager's discretion. That said, after 5 years with a clean record you're in a reasonable position to ask.
You don't have to give full details — "personal family circumstances" is enough. Keep the request in writing so there's a record either way.
If the circumstances involve a dependent (child, parent etc.) needing emergency care, you may also have a right to a reasonable amount of unpaid time off for dependants — separate from annual leave.
ukworkrights.co.uk has a free employment rights checker that covers exactly this — no login needed.