Am I allowed to take time off work if my kids are sick?
WORKING parents often struggle to manage a healthy balance between bringing up their children and advancing in their busy careers.
Things can be especially difficult when a child gets sick — here are your employment rights as a parent.
Am I allowed to take time off if my child is sick?
In short, yes — a child is your dependant, which means you are allowed to take time off work to cope with an emergency, even if they just have a nasty common cold.
A dependant is defined as a spouse, partner, child, parent, or someone who depends on an employee for care — an elderly neighbour for example.
A day or two is considered sufficient to deal with a crisis, and time off beyond this point may result in unpaid leave.
The states: "If you’ve worked for your employer for a year you have the right to unpaid time off work to look after your children."
You can also take unpaid time off work to deal with unexpected problems — for example where childminding arrangements break down.
Citizen's Advice Bureau
The right to time off covers: a lack of childcare, arranging or attending a funeral, caring for a dependant who has fallen ill, or putting longterm care in place for children or elderly relatives.
How much time do I get off?
The time you get off depends on your employment contract.
The Citizens Advice Bureau also states: "You can take up to 18 weeks' unpaid leave before your child is five. If your child is disabled you can up to 18 weeks’ unpaid leave before your child is 18.
"You can also take unpaid time off work to deal with unexpected problems — for example where childminding arrangements break down."
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However, the sooner you can let your employer know when you're going to be back at work, the better.
If you can both agree on the set amount of time off, it is less likely to have a negative effect on your job.
Both parents are entitled to time off work to care for sick children.
What about pay?
This depends from contract to contract.
Your employer may pay you for time off to look after your child, but they don't have to.
The recommends checking the details of your employment contract, your company handbook, or the intranet site to get clued up on your company's individual policy.
Exceptions to the rule
You can only take time off work to look after your child if it is in the case of something unexpected.
For instance, if your child has had a doctor's appointment booked for the past few weeks, then you will need to get Parental Leave instead.
Companies are required to let their parental employees take unpaid leave to look after their child's welfare.
This could mean booking a day off here and there to spend quality time with their kids, look around schools, or get used to a new childcare routine.
Parents can take this time off work safe in the knowledge that their employment rights and job security are ensured during this period.
It's also worth finding out whether or not your employer has a flexible working policy.
This could mean that you can work around your child's needs without disrupting your income.