Time off for dependants

• Work and pregnancy
• Maternity pay
• Parental leave

Entitlements

All employees, regardless of length of service, are entitled to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to deal with a family emergency involving a dependant.

Who is a dependant?

A dependant is your husband or wife, child, parent or any person who lives in the same household as you (except tenants, lodgers, boarders and people employed by you).

What is a family emergency?

Your are entitled to take time off:

• To provide help when a dependant falls ill, gives birth or is injured
• To make arrangements for providing care if a dependant is sick or injured
• To care for a dependant when the arrangements for caring for the dependant break down
• When a dependant dies
• To deal with an unexpected incident involving your child at school.

Notice requirements

If you need to take time off to care for your child or another dependant you should let your manager know:

• of the reason for the absence as soon as you can, and
• how long you expect the absence to last.

How much time off can I take?

The regulations do not specify how much time off a worker can take, but state that it should be a 'reasonable' length of time. This has been interpreted as being one or two days at the most. As the time off is unpaid, it is better to come to some kind of agreement with your employer if you do need to take more time off. Some employers will, for example, allow workers to take annual leave in such circumstances.

• Find out everything you need to know about being a working parent
• Get our top tips on returning to work after having a baby
• We answer your top ten parental leave questions
• Choosing childcare? Follow our guide and get the right childcare for you
• Get the lowdown on your rights as a pregnant worker or a parent
• Talk to other working mums on our Working mums and dads discussion forum
• Don't be a manic mum: 12 ways to juggle work and kids