An employee is entitled to be permitted by his employer to take a reasonable amount of time off during the employee’s working hours in order to take action which is necessary -

• to provide assistance on an occasion when a dependent falls ill, gives birth or is injured or assaulted,
• to make arrangements for the provision of care for a dependent who is ill or injured,
• in consequence of the death of a dependent,
• because of the unexpected disruption or termination of arrangements for the care of a dependant, or
• to deal with an incident which involves a child of the employee and which occurs unexpectedly in a period during which an educational establishment which  the child attends is responsible for him.

Entitlement does not apply unless the employee –

• tells his employer the reason for his/her absence as soon as reasonably practicable. and
• except where it cannot be complied with until after the employee has returned to work, tells his employer for how long he expects to be absent.

“Dependant” means, in relation to an employee -

• a spouse or civil partner.
• a child,
• a parent,
• a person who lives in the same household as the employee, otherwise than by reason of being his employee, tenant, lodger or boarder.