One of our employees asked for a week off to look after their nephew for his brother. It was very short notice and the manager genuinely could not agree. However,she compromised and agreed to the first 3 days.
On the 4th day, the employee rang in and said there was no-one else to look after the child so he couldn’t come in. WE ahev spoken to him and told him he is ggoing to be subject to a disciplinary. He says he is being penalised for telling the truth ( he could have rung in sick).
He has 8 months service.
He is not the main carer of the child.
He is Asian but there has been no hint of racial discrimination from him.
Unauthorised absence is listed in our disciplinary policy as Gross Misconduct.
Would this be a reasonably safe dismissal?
