Looking after someone 2017, Northern Ireland

Your rights in work Juggling work and care can be very challenging. It’s important to find out about your rights and about any support that is available. Your rights at work come from two sources: • the law gives you ‘statutory rights’ which everyone has • your contract of employment gives you ‘contractual rights’, which can be more generous than statutory rights 30 The following information is about statutory rights. However it is always worth checking your contract of employment, staff handbook or letter of appointment to see if you have any contractual rights on top of your statutory rights. All employees have a right to request flexible working after they have worked for the same employer for 26 weeks (six months), as long as they haven’t already made a flexible working request within the last 12 months. Employers can only refuse requests for certain specified reasons. Examples of flexible working include: • home working • part-time working • term-time working • flexitime • working compressed ho urs • job sharing • shift work Carers are protected under the Human Rights Act and Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, which requires public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for carers. In some cases carers may have rights under disability and sex discrimination legislation. All employees have the right to take a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off work to deal with an emergency or an unforeseen matter involving a dependent (which includes your partner, child or parent, or someone living with you as part of your family – others who rely on you for help in an emergency may also qualify). The time off is unpaid unless your employer is willing to give paid time off as a contractual right. Looking after someone carersni.org

Looking after someone 2017, Northern Ireland | Page 30