Law Updates

Time Off for Dependants

All employees have the right to reasonable time off to deal with dependant-related emergencies and to make longer-term arrangements.  A dependant is the partner, parent or child of the employee or someone living with the employee as a member of the family, e.g. an elderly uncle or grandparent.  This does not include lodgers or employees such as a cleaner.  A 'dependant' also includes someone not living in the family household, but who depends on the employee for primary care or where the employee is the only person who can help in an emergency.

The following situations are covered:-

• when a dependant becomes ill or has been involved in an accident or assaulted and includes consequent distress with or without physical injury
• when a partner is having a baby
• the death of a dependant - for example, to make funeral arrangements or to attend a funeral
• to make longer-term arrangements for a dependant who is ill or injured
• when an unexpected problem occurs relating to care arrangements for a dependant
• when an incident relating to the employee's child occurs during school hours

There is no limit to time off under these provisions, but the legislation does refer to 'reasonable time off'.  One or two days will normally be adequate, but the circumstances will dictate what is 'reasonable'