1.
family care leave; leave of absence from work to care for a family member
A statutory leave of absence in Japan that allows employees to stop working temporarily in order to care for a family member who requires nursing care due to illness, injury, or old age. Under Japanese law, eligible workers may take up to 93 days of 介護休業 per family member needing care.
A specific legal category of leave under the Japanese 育児・介護休業法 (Child Care and Family Care Leave Act). Distinct from everyday use of 'care leave' in English: in Japan, 介護休業 has a defined legal meaning, eligibility, and benefit.
Common collocations
- 介護休業を取る: to take family care leave
- 介護休業を取得する: to obtain family care leave
- 介護休業制度: the family care leave system
- 介護休業給付金: family care leave benefit (paid by employment insurance)
- 介護休業中: during family care leave
Similar words
- 介護休暇: family care days off — a separate, shorter-term leave (up to 5 days per family member per year) for day-to-day care needs
- 育児休業: childcare leave — a parallel system for caring for young children
- 産休: maternity leave — a shortened form of 産前産後休業
- 介護: (nursing) care — the broader activity of caring for someone who needs support
Cultural note
With Japan's rapidly aging population, the 介護休業 system has become an increasingly important labor issue. Companies are legally required to allow eligible workers to take this leave, though in practice many employees hesitate to use it due to workplace pressure.
Related Words
Compare:
介護休暇 (family care days off)
Compare:
育児休業 (childcare leave)
Compare:
産休 (maternity leave)