We recognise that employees will from time to time experience emergencies at home, such as a flood, fire or burglary. This policy, which applies to all employees, is intended to allow those who experience genuine domestic emergencies to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to deal with the emergency. The policy does not apply to planned events such as domestic repairs, refurbishment, building or trades work, installation of appliances, home deliveries, etc.
There is a separate policy relating to Time Off to Care for Dependants.
Procedure
If a domestic emergency happens, you should notify your manager as soon as it is reasonably practicable and explain the nature of the emergency and how much time off work you think you will need.
If your line manager is unavailable, please speak to an equivalent or more senior manager and then contact your line manager as soon as possible. While you are absent you should keep in reasonable contact with your manager and if there is any change in your anticipated return date you must let them know as soon as possible.
How much time off can be taken?
The right to time off for domestic emergencies will, in most cases, be one or two days. It is only the time necessary to deal with the immediate emergency. Once the immediate emergency has been taken care of, you are expected to return to work. If further time off is necessary you should arrange to take it as holiday, subject to the agreement of your line manager.
Pay
At our discretion, you will receive full pay for up to two days of domestic emergency leave per annum; thereafter domestic emergency leave will be unpaid.