Teachers are set to go on strike amid a dispute over pay and schools could close as a result.
If schools do shut, can parents take time off from work to look after their children? And would you still be paid if you take any leave?
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are taking industrial action on Wednesday, February 1. The NEU has announced it will launch seven days of walkouts throughout February and March in England and Wales.
Read More: How much do teachers get paid? A rundown of pay scales as teachers set to strike
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the union, has called on school leaders to let parents know ahead of February 1 if they plan to shut their doors during strike action. Guidance from the Department for Education suggests agency staff and volunteers could be used to cover classes on strike days, with schools expected to remain open where possible.
But many parents are still waiting to hear if they will need to make childcare arrangements on February 1 as school leaders are trying to work out whether they can keep their doors open. So what can parents do if schools shut?
According to Citizens Advice, you have the right to take reasonable time off work in certain circumstances, such as dealing with an unexpected problem or emergency. And that can include looking after your child if their school is shut.
These are called 'statutory rights'. However, you need to check your work contract to see if that leave will be paid or unpaid.
Citizens Advice says: "Your employer might let you have more time off on top of your statutory rights. For example, they might give you more paid holiday days. You should check your employment contract to see if you have any extra rights to time off."
If you want to take more unpaid leave than you’re entitled to, you can ask your employer but they don’t have to agree to give you the extra time off. You should explain your reasons and see if you can reach an agreement, the charity advises.
The group further explains that you can take time off to care for someone in an emergency if they’re a ‘dependant’, which includes your children. "It will be unpaid leave unless your contract of employment says you will be paid," says Citizens Advice. "The amount of time off has to be reasonable and you can only take enough time to deal with the urgent problem."
A example of dependant leave can be when "care arrangements for a dependant suddenly break down" or you "need to deal with an unexpected incident involving your child at their school".
The charity says: "You need to tell your employer as soon as possible that you’ll need to be off. You also need to say why you need the time off and when you expect to be back. Try to get their reply in writing as it will help to have a record if there’s a problem later."
And workplace experts ACAS say: "Time off for a dependant is unpaid, unless your workplace has a policy that it's paid. Employees should check their contract or talk to their employer to find out what they're entitled to."
If you don't want to take unpaid leave, you could speak to you employer and negotiate taking holiday instead and get paid. But this will be at their discretion.
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