Compansionnare leave question?

[uwe28]

My mum had a fall in Mancs city centre and she has broke her wrist and her face looks a mess,I basked the dom if I could take a couple ov days off as I still have 2 days owing from the previous year.Was told it can't be done so I asked if I could take 2 days compassionate leave to help my mum while she is struggling,I was told I could take the 2 days compassionate leave but because we are now a private company they won't pay me for them.I couldn't care less really as I would tell them to stick the job to look after my mum anyway.I was just wondering if anyone knows the rules/regs for compassionate leave.My brother asked where he works for 3 days off to look after her aswell and they said no problems,take as long as you need,just shows how RM thinks about its employees.

[Bahia Feliz]

I'm sure they would have said you won't be paid even if we weren't now a privatised company!

[Judgee]

I believe payment for compassionate leave is at the managers discretion. If you have a good manager you may get paid, if not you won't. That being said I would imagine that as RM are tightening the screws even a good manager may struggle to pay you for it.

Still, your mother is your main priority so screw the money and go look after her. I wish her a speedy recovery!

[rehabron]

Under Royal Mails guidelines for special leave there are 2 categories that fit your entitlement to leave DEPENDANTS LEAVE and URGENT DOMESTIC DISTRESS both show this leave can be paid or unpaid. In certain circumstances the first 24 hrs would be paid and the remainder to be unpaid or taken as part of holiday entitlement. To be paid would be at DOM discretion but I know of colleagues who have received 1 days paid leave for URGENT DOMESTIC DISTRESS then I would expect you to receive similar treatment in the same situation. Your DOM reply that it is now unpaid as we are a now a private company is misleading as agreements already in place are honoured until changed whether a private or public company. Notify your union rep of your situation. Hope mum has a quick recovery.

[smileski]

1. FAMILY LEAVE
Urgent Domestic Distress:
Urgent indicates an immediate need, the provision with pay should normally be one day, with further days unpaid or covered by holiday entitlement. Exceptional circumstances might warrant 3 days with pay.
Recent UK legislation provides certain rights to time off work for employees with childcare responsibilities and urgent care responsibilities for dependants. The Parental Leave and Dependants' Leave policy guides provide background information and further advice on these two areas. This means that if an employee wants time off work for urgent family (or dependant) reasons (sickness, bereavement) etc, s/he can either exercise their statutory right to such leave (unpaid) or apply for special leave (which may be paid or unpaid). Please see the separate policies on these.

Get your rep involved and use the above.

Hope mum feels better soon!