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Work & Money 
  |  Experts  |  Workplace Rights - Rachel Lewis  |  Forced to take time as unpaid leave
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Forced to take time as unpaid leave

by Work Rights Expert, Rachel Lewis

question
I'm at home because my car wouldn't start. I called my boss to let her know that I was arranging to get home breakdown service out. She asked me if I could get a taxi into work as she had an appointment in London and couldn't get in to open the shop. I arranged for a taxi to pick me up.

Her appointment was cancelled and she was able to go in after all and didn't need me. But she said I would have to take the day off as unpaid leave. I could have gone into work by taxi. Surely she shouldn't make me take the day as unpaid leave? Thanks
Linds

answer
Hiya
This sounds dodgy to me. Sure, if you couldn't get in at all, then whilst being unfair morally, it would have been fine to make you take the day as unpaid leave (unless your contract says otherwise).

But having been asked to, and agreed to, go in, it seems wrong to me that you were then told not to. I'd raise this tactfully with her, saying that you appreciate that she let you stay at home, but you'd already made arrangements to go in and to that extent, feel it's unfair to have to take the day as unpaid leave.
Good luck
Rachel

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