Caring for dependents

[Postmanpat6312]

I took time off to care for my dependents during COVID due to schools being shut, the policy said at the time this absence would be discounted from the normal absence policy. Now it has been reworded and says that employees are allowed to take 4 weeks unpaid parental leave. However, it can also be booked as unpaid special leave.

Employees are able to take up to 18 weeks of statutory unpaid leave during the life of their child. I wasn’t told whether my time off would be recorded as unpaid special leave or unpaid parental leave. [non-critical workers would have received furlough in my situation, but Royal Mail refused this so I have to take time off unpaid].

Few questions:
- what is unpaid special leave?
- should I have been informed whether my leave was booked as unpaid parental or unpaid special leave? I did not specify.
- was the leave of absence really discounted from the normal policy, or have I used all of my statutory unpaid parental leave up?

[rogersh]

Might answer your first question.

http://glosamal.co.uk/Docs/Other%20Time ... 0Guide.pdf

Edit from above link;
Overview Other time off is a benefit offered to support employees who may require time off in addition to their annual holiday, so they can fulfil certain commitments during work hours.
Royal Mail recognises there may be instances where employees need time off that does not fall under Annual Holiday, Career Break or Family Friendly policies. There are various reasons and circumstances why an employee might request other time off and these applications should be handled fairly and promptly.

This guide provides advice on some of the situations in which other time off could be considered. It also explains the application process. This should be read in conjunction with the Other Time Off Policy.
What is available? There are two types of other time off:
• Paid
• Unpaid
Allowing this time off is the managers’ decision as other time off is discretionary.

However, UK Legislation allows for employees to have a reasonable amount of unpaid time off during working hours to make emergency caring arrangements and provide emergency assistance for dependants (see the Dependant’s Leave section).


Family leave Dependant’s leave
UK Legislation allows for employees to have a reasonable amount of unpaid time off during working hours to make emergency caring arrangements and provide emergency assistance for dependants.

[POSTMAN]

What policy are you talking about that has changed? link?
There is no reworded absence policy even regarding Covid.

Having time off for Covid related absences is different from having run of the mill dependants leave.

Parental leave
• You can take a maximum of 18 weeks’ unpaid
leave per child up to your child’s 18th birthday.
• A maximum of 4 weeks’ may be taken in any
year (in whole week blocks).
• You may also be entitled to Shared parental
leave. See the Shared parental leave summary

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/mrm/Bei ... ummary.pdf
- what is unpaid special leave?
Unpaid special leave is what it says, you take leave for whatever reason and it is unpaid, it does not have to be child related.

should I have been informed whether my leave was booked as unpaid parental or unpaid special leave? I did not specify.
Yes as you only have 18 weeks parental leave which is law, obviously unpaid special leave is kinda unlimited.

was the leave of absence really discounted from the normal policy, or have I used all of my statutory unpaid parental leave up?
Covid related yes, either way having time off for children is a bit of a given it's just that it's all unpaid.
If you have to take time off for the kids, then you have to take time off.