Family status

Family status means that a person has responsibility for the care of an immediate family member. An immediate family member is a person who is related by blood, marriage, adoption or affinity. Common examples include parents caring for children (includes adoption, fostering and step parenting) and adult children caring for aging parents or parents with disabilities and families headed by lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered persons

 Attempting to balance life's many responsibilities can be difficult for anyone, and the stress involved in being a parent, child, and employee can be exhausting. Child and elder care responsibilities are often unpredictable, and the resulting absenteeism can be extremely frustrating for an employer. Individuals can face discrimination because of their family status.

 The examples of discriminations are : 1. Leaves of Absence - When an employer provides paid or unpaid leaves for employees 2. Work schedules and overtime - When an employer refuses to rearrange work and overtime schedules 3. Travel requirements - when an employer requires an employee to travel or relocate for work

When does the employer have a duty to accommodate family status?

employers have a duty to accommodate an employees needs related to family status Family status accommodation is usually associated with an employees parental obligations, e.g. their child care responsibilities. Some examples of accommodation are: 1. Providing flexible scheduling 2. Allowing employees to take leaves of absence to care for family members who are aging, ill or have a disability 3. Allowing alternative work arrangements.

But In some cases, accommodation may be required where work requirements conflict with family responsibilities.

What are some common examples of requests for family status accommodation? 1. 2. 3. An employees spouse is deployed outside the country for a period of time and no adequate child care can be arranged at night An employees child is receiving treatment for behavioural difficulties and requires parental supervision after school. The only available daycare opens at 07:30 and the employees shift begins at 07:00.