Absences from work are exceptional circumstances that prevent or make it impossible for an employee to carry out his/her working hours. Under the flexible working arrangements, only absences during core hours are considered absences from work and, as such, require legal justification.
Yes, the following absences can be justified for their full duration:
- Absences legally equivalent to actual working time; and
- Absences in which the schedule cannot be controlled by employees;
In accordance with the Rector's Order No. 87/2020 of 23 April 2020, and pursuant to Article 49.1.e and j of the Statutes of the University of Coimbra, the following absences during the core period may also be excused:
1. Accident at work and occupational disease;
2. Trade union activity (banked hours and authorised absences);
3. Time off for adoption assessment;
4. Candidacy for public office (for the period of the election campaign);
5. Accompanying children under the age of 12 on their first day of school;
6. Time off to attend medically assisted reproduction appointments;
7. Time off to attend prenatal appointments;
8. Outpatient treatment, medical appointments and complementary diagnostic tests of the employee, spouse or partner, ascendants, descendants, adopted children and stepchildren, minors or disabled persons (if the employee is unable to schedule an alternative appointment time [to be confirmed by a medical declaration]);
9. Frequent, long-term, medically certified treatments (e.g. chemotherapy);
10. Compliance with a legal obligation (where the employee is duly served to attend compulsory legal proceedings [e.g. appearing in court]);
11. Circumstances beyond the employee's control (the hierarchical superior shall define the circumstances to be considered and request the justification he/she deems appropriate);
12. Participation in rounds of competitive selection procedures;
13. Occupational Health appointments.
How do I justify these absences?
They can be justified in terms of actual duration and travel time, based on the normal working hours of the University of Coimbra, which is from 08:00 to 20:00.
Note: It is the hierarchical superior's responsibility to authorise absences under the conditions requested by the employee, upon presentation of the documents required for this purpose.