1. Reasons for absence
Apart from annual holiday entitlement, an employee might need time off work for reasons including:
- short-term and long-term sickness, including mental health conditions
- helping a child, partner or relative
- bereavement
- medical appointments
- pregnancy-related illnesses and appointments, including IVF
- bad weather conditions, making travelling to work difficult or impossible
Each workplace might have different rules on what they see as acceptable reasons for absence and what they will pay.
For this reason, every workplace should have its own absence policy, so it's important to check this.
What an absence policy should cover
An absence policy should make clear exactly what's expected from both the employer and employee if the employee needs to take time off work.
An absence policy should include:
- how to report absences, including who the employee should contact and when
- when the employee needs to get a sick note
- when return to work discussions will be held and with who
- how and when to keep in touch
- how the employer keeps track of absence and if they set any review or 'trigger' points
- whether the employer provides occupational health or an employee assistance programme (EAP) and when this starts
- how much the employee will be paid and for how long – see more on sick pay
If your workplace does not have an absence policy, the employee can ask their employer or HR manager what to do if they need time off work. The employer should follow best practice as outlined in this guide.
There are some areas that are covered by law, for example:
- statutory sick pay (SSP)
- sick notes ('fit notes')
- time off to help dependants
Taking time off to help someone else
By law, anyone classed as an employee has the right to take to take time off work to help someone who depends on them (a 'dependant') in an unexpected event.
Time off for a dependant is unpaid, unless your workplace has a policy that it’s paid.
Find out more about time off for dependants.
Difficulty getting to work due to bad weather or travel disruption
If an employee cannot get to work or is going to arrive late because of bad weather or transport problems, they should tell their employer as soon as possible.
There is no legal right for an employee to be paid for working time they've missed because of bad weather or travel disruption.
Some workplace policies might have different rules, so it's a good idea to check.