Absence for Compelling Family Reasons

Employees shall be entitled to temporary absence from work if their immediate presence is necessary because of an unforeseeable and compelling reason due to an illness or accident suffered by their family. Reasons justifying the absence are, for example, illness of the family member or fire in the employer’s apartment. The reason of the absence must particularly be unforeseeable and require the presence of the employee at home, in the hospital or at the accident scene.

The employee must notify the employer of their absence and its reason as soon as possible. If the employer so requests, employee must present a reliable account of the grounds for their absence. A reliable account can be, for example, a medical certificate or a certificate given by the house manager in cases of home-related accidents.

The employer is not required to pay the employee salary for the duration of an absence for compelling family reasons. Collective agreements may include provisions regarding employee’s right to salary during this type of absence.