Compassionate leave
 

What does your employer give you for compassionate leave?
I was due to go away on a trip today for five days but my wife has hurt her back and is completely immobile due to the pain.My employer has said I can have Dependants leave which is unpaid!I offered to work the weekend for them but that wasn't good enough!
I am now assembling a collection of profanity to express my anger and their lack of understanding!
Comments please.

When my wife had cancer, and I was late for work a few times because of looking after her (still did all the work and often stayed late, getting no overtime pay incidentally, and by late I mean up until 2am in the morning type of late), what did the company I worked for at the time do because of my late arrivals? Yup that's right, they gave me a written warning. That was nice of them wasn't it?

And you know what company that was? Yup it was the Guardian Media Group of newspapers, a company founded and run by the Scott Trust, which is supposed to be a benevolent organisation. Just one of the reasons why I walked out on the b*st*rds. they spout all socialist and welfare crap on the pages, but it's a different story when you work for them.

:D Chock

I think my company it is 5 days...

I'd frickin sue them.

Chock I'm assuming you told them why you were late too and that it would be a more than once occurence...Used to read the Guardian but got pissed off with them. In fact can't find a paper I can enjoy reading. Oh and sorry for hijacking the thread but what pissed me off about the guardian of late is its sanctimonious reporting on anything that goes on in Russia. Bastards.

My manager said I could have three days off( paid ) if she died . Mty wife's Doctor has given me a sick certificate so that I can act as a carer for a week.My line manager threatened me with all sorts of consequences if I didn't go to work and has now taken a weeks pay away from me.I offered to work the weekend as my wife's parents could have just about looked after her but that wasn't good enough for him!!
My union is involved so I how that I get some positive resolution.

Well, I should warn you that I got the union involved (Graphical Media and Print Workers Union GMPWU) for an incident related to the one I mentioned, when someone tried to get me another written warning by blaming something they did on me, I think they felt threatened by the fact that I was better at the job than them and wanted to, if not get me fired, then spike any chances of me moving up the food chain past them, and they saw that by building on the (rather unjust warning I had already received) they could make life hard for me. Unfortunately for that person, I refused to accept the written warning which was handed me and demanded a union hearing and the retraction of the warning (which, incidentally, put the sh*ts up the guy who had instigated the warning) I won the hearing, by providing evidence that proved it was not me responsible for the matter at hand, and I was told by the union rep who was in the hearing with me that it was the first time they had ever witnessed someone winning such a case.

But - and it is a big but - when something like that happens, it makes life hard for you in the work environment. It was a combination of this situation and the fact that I was pissed off with the lame journalistic integrity of the place that made me walk out of the job. So now all the writing I do is freelance. Since I believe you are an airline pilot, I suspect you may have not have many such a similar 'freelance options' and I would be aware that making yourself appear 'bolshy' (even if it is justified) can have repercussions as far as work opportunities go, so think carefully about what you do. I know that this is a problem with Easyjet pilots, who often get treated like crap and are afraid to complain lest they find themselves stacking shelves. Personally I didn't give a sh*t about that, as I was not going to put up with something so blatantly wrong and unjust, but then I knew I had other options. So think carefully about how far you push things. This might seem lame, but if you like what you do and you want to keep doing it, be aware of this possible pitfall, it's a bummer of course, but trust me, it's what can happen, anyone you 'defeat' at work in such a way will from that moment treat you as an enemy, and they will make life hard for you, just to be a b*st*rd.

:D Chock

No pay what so ever unless there is a death and only three days are paid.

Employers in this country don't give a flying fart about us employees what so ever.

That's crap mate, I hope she gets better soon.

The MoD don't have a fixed term that I know of, it comes under 'Management Discretion'.

Hmm and here I am, able to call my boss when im too hung over and let him know that im not showing up for work and it wont be a problem. Then again, if anything did happen to a loved one and i had to take care of them it would all be unpayed, thats the way things are here, though my boss would tell me to call in sick so id get 75% or my wage untill "I" recovered. Incidentally my boss allso owns the small company i work in.

thtas bollox mate you reqiure compass leave they have a duty of care for you and by law are required to bend over backwards

Thank you all for the encouraging words.When you see somebody you have be attached to for twenty years in excruciating pain my only priority was to look after her and our children.I anm shocked by the attitude my line manager has taken.My previous manager was a lot more considerate.The new one is a complete **** !

If it were me in your boat, i'd be having unpaid leave, they're a bit stingy about that.

But, at the same time, I'll be paid when doing my reserves stuff, so that evens it out in some way.

very rough linton, sorry to hear it

I am not going to comment because i just think it sucks and my choice of language is inappropiate.

If in doubt check with your HR dept and find out what your entitlements are. Don't use them to get at your manager though cos their responsiblity is to prevent the company from being sued by irate employees. If the prat carries on being one, make sure you know where you stand with entitlements before going over his head.

Sometimes managers are not up to date with what's what on that front and he may simply not know what you are entitled to. It sounds like you are not sure either. Dunno what it's like in the UK but there is an ombudsman office you can talk to over here in Australia if there is a dispute about entitlements but they do prefer you to try to sort it out with between the staff and management before going to them.

Best of luck with it and remember its only a job and not necessarily the only one you'll have. There is only one of your wife and losing her will be far more painful than losing your job. I do hope she recovers soon and fully.

:yep: :x

TarJak has good advice as well mate. I'm pretty lucky here as we have a very generous policy.

Tarjak thank you for your advice.Perhaps it is a reflection of modern business practice that employers no longer care for their employees.My manager wasn't the least bit sympathetic to my case.My union is going to take up the case,so hopefully a satisfactory resolution can be achieved.