The Employer Advice Service of Manchester has receive approximately 220 phone calls from workers requesting leave after hearing the news that Zayn Malik has decided to quit the band One Direction. The workers have requested compassionate leave, a type of leave that is typically given to workers after a loved one dies.
See "Zayn Malik Quits One Direction: Hundreds of Workers Request Compassionate Leave Following Band Member's Exit", Jenn Selby, The Independent (UK), March 26, 2015