Do not bunk off to demonstrate (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Do not bunk off to demonstrate

ANYONE considering bunking off work to save the poor people of the planet faces disciplinary proceedings, writes Dave Andrew.

That's the view of a Swindon employment law specialist.

So people from Swindon considering a trip to Edinburgh this weekend to take part in Saturday's Make Poverty History March had better be back at their desks on Monday morning unless they have pre-booked a holiday.

Paul Archer, a partner at Lemon and Co in Swindon, said: "Unauthorised absence is a disciplinary matter and could result in people being disciplined and even potentially being dismissed.

"Bunking off work is quite a serious matter.

"If somebody has arranged a day off as part of their holiday entitlement that's fine, but if not, or the company refuses a request, and time is taken without a valid reason such as sickness it is a disciplinary matter.

"The company is entitled to call the employee to a disciplinary hearing, listen to what they have to say, and then the employee could face anything from a warning to dismissal." Dennis Grant, chief executive of Swindon Chamber of Trade, said: "If people are willing to ask permission for time off then it's not a problem.

"The general view of employers in Swindon is that people should only take time off with the official sanction of the employer, which seems fair enough.

"Employees may seem to be morally justified in supporting these concerts.

"But even if they are doing it with the best of intentions and feel their judgement is right, they are taking money from their employers and also burdening colleagues who will have to cover for them.

"People taking a sickie generally only ring in on that morning, so the employer has little choice but to try to spread the work around those who have turned up."

On Saturday Chancellor Gordon Brown became the first cabinet minister to say that he will be joining the march.

Up to a million people are expected to take to Edinburgh's streets when leaders from the Group of Eight nations, representing the world's leading economies plus Russia, meet at Gleneagles.