smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

No safety net

Whereas some financial institutions may get bailed out by a...
Have your say »

RSS

Q: An employee's brother has unfortunately died what are the rules for time off paid or unpaid?

Mar 12 2007

Answered by: Carolyn Mumby Ask a question

Under the statutory right to Dependent Leave your employee would not normally be entitled to time off from work unless his/her brother was a dependant and then he/she would be entitled to unpaid time off for a reasonable period. Compassionate leave is very similar and is usually applied in situations where the emergency does not involve a dependant, and then it comes down to assessing whether or not it would be unreasonable to refuse unpaid time off in the circumstances (based on issues such as the effects the situation was having on the employee).

It is hard to imagine that any employer would want to refuse time off for the funeral and most would provide longer if the relatives had a very close relationship. The period of time that the employee should take would again relate to the amount of time required to deal with the immediate emergency and would not extend beyond that.

So for example, it wouldn’t be appropriate to take four weeks off work to provide childcare for nieces and nephews, but it would more likely be reasonable to take a day or two off work to arrange childcare for them. Some employers go the extra mile and provide paid leave during such situations but that is a matter for the company policy.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

Enter our prize draw!!

You've probably noticed smallbusiness.co.uk has a brand new look. You can personalise the homepage to suit your needs and there's lots of new content including video, blogs and the small business resource centre.

We're interested to know what you think about the new small business site, so we'd like you to take this opportunity to have your say. All entrants will be entered into our free prize draw to win a bottle of champagne provided by our partners at Laithwaites! Enter here

Polls

Q & A

Small business guidance

Marc Barber, SmallBusiness.co.uk Ask a question

News

smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

More companies opt to screen employees

An increasing number of firms are choosing to screen candidates in a bid to protect the company's data and ensure it is not put at risk, according to a source.

Both employers and staff need to be represented

An overhaul of the employment tribunal system needs to take into account the needs of staff and employers, according to the Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD).

Recruitment 'needs to have vetting procedure'

Criminal record checks should not be relied on solely in the recruitment process and a 'proper vetting procedure' should be in place, according to an industry body.

Organisations 'are only as good as their leaders'

Firms need a good leader to guide them through tough economic times and efforts should be made to retain any potential management candidates, an expert says.

Training should be seen as an investment

Companies assessing their costs should view training as an investment and not cut the budget, as it is usually ‘the first thing to go’, a spokesperson asserts.

Peer-to-peer training is 'a great way to learn'

Peer-to-peer training offers a great way for employees to learn in a non-threatening way, but the benefits are not widely known, says an expert.

Britons are working longer to supplement pensions

Employees in Britain are working beyond the usual age as the attitude to retirement is changing and people lead more active lives post-work, a pension provider states.

Managers 'must be trained about discrimination'

Managers must be given thorough training about their responsibilities concerning discrimination in the workplace, an expert claims.

Traditional retirements 'disappearing'

Traditional retirements are becoming increasingly rare as people are living and working longer, it has been claimed.

Training can 'empower staff'

Training for staff is a great tool in the current economic climate as it empowers them and allows them to earn more, according to an expert.

Firms need licences for migrant workers, Home Office warns

Businesses must be prepared for new regulations which mean they will now need to apply for licences for migrant workers, the Home Office warns.

Guides & Tips

Redundancy: softening the blow

It is never easy making someone you know redundant. But it can be even harder when you’ve worked closely with them in a small business environment.

Promoting from within

The average cost of bringing in a new employee is £4,500 to £8,000, according to figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. So it’s no surprise that promoting internally is popular with employers.

Training: the key to retaining staff

Learning on the job can lead to a more motivated and productive workforce and enable your staff to keep up with the latest trends in areas such as technology and people management.

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.