'Unbelievable' abuse of compassionate leave after Zayn Malik quits 1D says Employment Lawyer

Workers upset about Zayn Malik leaving One Direction have been calling an Employer Advice Service at Peninsula Business Services requesting compassionate leave, Employment Law Director Alan Price claims.

Price told Manchester Evening News that more than 220 calls were received by the firm following a situation that echoes the 1996 exit of Robbie Williams from Take That. Price said “it was a situation you just couldn’t make up."

He went on to advise bosses that anyone affected by the exit of Malik should take time off as annual leave instead, saying: “If employees feel strongly about the issue then request that they take days off as a holiday, but compassionate leave is what you allow if a close relative dies, unless the employer is unaware of family ties with Zayn Malik then I hardly think that this qualifies.