In an acute care situation (occurring suddenly and unexpectedly), an unpaid leave of absence of up to ten days can be granted on the basis of the Care Leave Act (Pflegezeitgesetz) for the case one is temporarily unable to work. The employer or supervisor should be informed as soon as possible, but this does not have to be applied for. As a wage replacement benefit, there is an entitlement to income-replacement benefit (known as Care Support Allowance [Pflegeunterstützungsgeld]), which must be applied for from the care insurance fund of the person in need of care.

In addition to the aforementioned leave of absence, it is also possible to take short-term vacation or use working time compensation. The contact persons for the employees are, in addition to the supervisors, the responsible staff in the Human Resources Department, or the Staff Council.

If long-term care for relatives is necessary, with the Act to Improve Reconciliation of Family, Care and Work, employees are given the opportunity for an unpaid full or partial leave of absence to provide care at home for a maximum of six months if the need for care is proven (Care Leave, [Pflegezeit]). Partial leave is possible for up to 24 months as part of Family Caregiving Leave [Familienpflegezeit]. Caregivers are entitled to reduce their working hours to a minimum 15 hours per week in this period of time. Care Leave and Family Caregiving Leave may not exceed a total of 24 months. Special protection against dismissal applies during family care leave.

Detailed explanations on options for leave of absence can be found on the corresponding information sheet of the Main Staff Council at the SMWK Saxony (Informationsblatt des Hauptpersonalrates beim SMWK Sachsen)and on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health (Webseite des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit).

Likewise, according to the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the federal states (Tarifvertrag der Länder, TV-L) and the Act on part-time work and temporary employment contracts (Teilzeit- und Befristungsgesetz – TzBfG), it is possible to reduce working hours for an unlimited or limited period of time, or to apply for part-time employment. When structuring working hours, the employer should take the specific personal circumstances of the caregiver into account and allow for a high degree of flexibility. (The information sheet from the State Ministry of Science, Cultural Affairs and Tourism of Saxony, SMWK, provides detailed information on options for reducing working hours: Informationsblatt des SMWK Sachsen zu Möglichkeiten der Arbeitszeitreduzierung).

In addition, the Free State of Saxony provides on its website Compatibility of family and career under Compatibility of care and career (Vereinbarkeit von Pflege und Beruf) further comprehensive information and offers from the Federal Government and the Care Network (PflegeNetz) of the Free State of Saxony.