NASUWT Representatives

68 www.nasuwt.org.ukFamily LeavelllllllLegislation gives employees the right to maternity, paternity,adoption, parental and dependant leave. See page 76 forrights to maternity, paternity and adoption leave.There is a qualifying period of one year’s continuousemployment with the same employer before rights toparental leave can be exercised.Employees have a right to 13 weeks’ unpaid parental leaveto care for a natural or adopted child in the first five years ofthe child’s life (or the first five years of placement).If the child is disabled (e.g. where the child is receiving adisability living allowance), employees have a right to 18weeks’ unpaid leave that can be taken up to the child’s 18thbirthday.Unless there is an agreement to the contrary any leave mustbe taken in blocks of one week, except for parents ofdisabled children who can take the leave in blocks of a day.A maximum of four weeks can be taken in one year inrespect of each child.Complaints can be made to an ET if an employer obstructsthe taking of parental leave. Employees are protectedagainst victimisation for exercising their rights.Time off for dependants or family emergenciesl All employees have a legal right to take a reasonable amountof unpaid time off to deal with an emergency involving adependant.lllA ‘dependant’ includes a spouse, child, parent, someoneliving in the same house who is not an employee or lodgerand anyone who ‘reasonably relies’ on the employee.Unpaid time off can be taken to take action that is necessaryin circumstances where:2 a dependant falls ill, gives birth or is injured or assaulted;2 arrangements have to be made to care for a dependantwho is ill or injured;2 care arrangements have broken down;2 there is a problem at school.There may be local agreements that provide more than theminimum requirements in these circumstances, e.g. paidtime off.Employees have to tell their employers as soon as possible whyand for how long they will be absent. A complaint can be madeto an ET if the employer unreasonably refuses the time off.Further InformationThe NASUWT offers aSchool Governorscourse in the NationalTrade Union Educationand Training (TUET)programme formembersFor advice and help ˚ Local Association ˚ Regional Centre ˚ National Executive