Time off for dependants factsheet

All employees have a statutory right to take reasonable time off work to take necessary action in certain unexpected situations affecting their dependants to make any necessary longer term arrangements.  The unexpected situation must involve a dependant of the employee.

Entitlement

Employees are entitled to be permitted by their employer to take a reasonable amount of time off during working hours in order to take action which is necessary:

• To provide assistance when a dependant falls ill, gives birth, is injured or assaulted
• To make arrangements for the provision of care for a dependant who is ill or injured
• To deal with the death of a dependant
• To deal with the unexpected disruption or termination of arrangements for the care of a dependant
• To deal with an incident which involves the employee’s child which occurs unexpectedly in a period during which an educational establishment which the child attends is responsible for him.

The time off is to make necessary arrangements and not to provide care itself.