Unauthorised Absence From Work

One of our employees recently took time off work and did not comply with our absence notification procedures. He did not ring in until almost the end of the shift. It was one of our busiest periods and this created organisational difficulties for us. We wish to treat the matter as taking unauthorised absence and deal with it under our disciplinary procedure. However, he says that he needed the time off to deal with a family emergency. How do I handle it?


Ciara Fulton writes:


Employees have the right to take a “reasonable” amount of time off work in order to deal with unexpected emergencies affecting their dependants and to make any necessary long term arrangements. This right is set out in