Urgent family leave is available to all staff, to help you deal with unforeseen emergencies involving a dependant. Requests for family leave must be made to your Line Manager and HR, giving details of how long you expect to be away from work.
Wherever possible, such requests should be made in advance. Where the reason for the request is family illness, a medical certificate may be required.
Time off taken as family leave is unpaid.
Family leave may be granted for pressing matters which occur suddenly and for important family reasons such as:
• a dependant falling ill or becoming injured
• the death of a dependant
• a breakdown in a dependant's care arrangements
• an incident involving the employee's child during school hours.
We would expect that in the majority of cases, one or two days would be enough to deal with an immediate problem and make any longer-term arrangements. No more than 5 days’ family leave should be taken at a one time.