Policy Adopted on 14/01/2021 / Revised on 04/07/2023 and will be reviewed Q2 2024 – Revision 2.0
1.Policy Statement
Employees have a statutory right to take a reasonable amount of time off work to deal with emergencies involving their dependants. This policy sets out the church’s stance on permitting employees to take time off for this purpose whilst ensuring the church’s operations are not unduly affected. The term ‘dependant’ is prescribed in law and replicated in this policy.
2. Reason for Policy
The policy sets out areas of flexibility that the church may adopt in order to support employees. Employees will not be subject to detriment for taking time off for dependants.
Employees who use time off for dependants for reasons other than that for which the statutory right is intended may be subject to disciplinary proceedings.
3. Who Should Read this Policy?
- All staff members
- Board of Trustees
4. Resources
- This policy is part of the Staff Handbook found on The Way We Work platform
- https://twww.revivechurch.uk
5. The Policy
- Entitlement
You are entitled to take a reasonable (see below) amount of time off to take action in relation to unforeseen events involving a dependant, defined as follows:
- spouse/civil partner
- child
- parent
- person who lives in the same household but is not a tenant, lodger, boarder or employee
- those who reasonably rely on you for the provision of care or for assistance if they fall ill. This could be, for example, an elderly neighbour.
It is not possible to define what a reasonable amount of time is because this will depend on the specific circumstances in question. The same event may require varying amounts of time off for different people, or even the same person if it happens more than once on different occasions.
The right to time off extends only to that needed to make arrangements in the event of an emergency. Therefore, it is anticipated that no more than one or two days will be appropriate on each occasion. Arrangements to cover any time off needed in excess of this as a result of an emergency will need to be discussed with your line manager.
The Church recognises that people other than those listed above in relation to whom the statutory right applies may depend on you for assistance. Requests for time off in relation to these people should be made to your line manager.
- Events covered by this policy
An unforeseen emergency, for the purposes of this policy, can cover various events in an employee’s life, for example:
- to help when a dependant falls ill, gives birth or is injured or assaulted (including mental illness or injury)
- to make arrangements for the provision of care for a dependant who is ill or injured
- to cope with the unexpected breakdown of arrangements for caring for a dependant and
- to deal with an incident involving a child of the employee which occurs unexpectedly during school hours or in circumstances where the school has responsibility for the child.
Time off for emergencies not involving a dependant eg a flood at home, is not covered by this policy.
- Pay for time off
There is no legal obligation on the church to pay employees for time off for dependants, however, a maximum of 3 days in a rolling 12 month period will be paid at full pay. Part days taken will be counted as a full day.
- Notification
As soon as is reasonably practicable, you must contact your line manager to inform him/her of your need to take time off for dependants. If you are in work at the time the need arises, you must make reasonable efforts to inform your line manager in person of the need to leave work. If your line manager cannot be located, you should contact the Office. If you are out of work when the need to take time off arises, you should notify your line manager by telephone or, in exceptional circumstances where a telephone call is not appropriate, by email.
The reason for your absence/the need to leave and the expected duration must be provided. Failure to do this may result in disciplinary action being taken against you. Your line manager may ask you for evidence of the need to take time off.
- Bereavement leave
Where a dependant dies, the Church will offer 3 days paid bereavement leave. Please note that the loss of children under the age of 18 is covered in the separate parental bereavement leave policy.
This leave will be available for the following:
- children over the age of 18
- parents
- siblings
- grandparents
- carers and guardians
