Workers have made more than 200 calls to employment law experts requesting compassionate leave because Zayn Malik quit One Direction.
The singer, who is engaged to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, announced he had left the boyband yesterday.
Between 6pm last night and 9.30am this morning Manchester-based Peninsula received 220 calls to its Employer Advice Service.
Alan Price, employment law director, said ‘it was a situation you just couldn’t make up’.
He did however say that it wasn’t ‘unusual’, as when Take That split in 1996 there was a spike in calls from bosses concerned that employees were requesting time off.
Mr Price told the M.E.N.: “While I sympathise with One Direction fans, I hardly think this qualified as compassionate leave.
“It’s a story you could not make up but I don’t think that Zayn Malik’s departure qualifies for compassionate leave and this is the advice we have had to give to employers.
“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.
"Abusing compassionate leave is inconsiderate to fellow colleagues who may genuinely need the time off.”
And it's stirred a WILD debate on the M.E.N's Facebook page....Read it below.
The singer was signed off from the group’s world tour last week due to ‘stress’ after pictures emerged of him cosying up to another girl in Thailand.
It left legions of fans distraught that he will no longer be performing in Manchester with them later this year.
Peninsula this morning told the M.E.N. it had received 220 calls – to its Employer Advice Service – from employers since 6pm Wednesday, March 25 to 9.30am on Thursday, March 26, with workers requesting compassionate leave on the news that Zayn Malik has left One Direction.
@AWBellMENMedia Hard to believe but we have received calls from bosses whose staff requested compassionate leave over Zayn Malik leaving 1D — Alan Price (@alan__price) March 26, 2015
Mr Price added: “Strangely, this situation is not unusual, as when Take That split in 1996 there was a spike in calls from bosses concerned that employees were requesting time off, and while I sympathise to a point, you have to ask yourself whether it’s more of an obsession and whether time off is really needed.
“If you have employees who request time off then give them the option of holiday leave, this will no doubt make the individual reappraise the situation, chances are they will decline the offer; or if they do take time off, they will not wish to use up all of their entitlement.
“It’s worth noting that the dismissal of Jeremy Clarkson has not led to calls.”
Malik pictured while performing with One Direction in 2012.
, one of the members of British pop boy-band , has left the group after five years. The band confirmed yesterday that Malik has left the group with a statement on Facebook. They also announced they would continue with the remaining four members and their fifth album would be recorded later this year. 

The statement posted on One Direction's Facebook page said "After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction. , ,  and  will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year".

Malik, 22, also released a statement through Facebook confirming his departure. He said "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right." 

After news of Malik's departure spread fans took to social media to share their disappointment. On Twitter the hashtag #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik was created and 48,000 comments were left on the statement posted by the band on Facebook. The Employer Advice Service, based at Manchester company Peninsula, said 220 people had called overnight regarding  relating to the news. Speaking to the '''', employment law director Alan Price said “While I sympathise with One Direction fans, I hardly think this qualified as compassionate leave".

One Direction formed as a group in 2010 after competing as single artists on the British reality music competition . The band was signed by 's record label after the show, which they finished third on. The remaining members of the group are Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson.


== Sources == 
*
*
*
*