Following the announcement that Zayn Malik was leaving One Direction there was an outpouring of emotion, from the #AlwaysInIOurHeartsZaynMalik hashtag on Twitter to videos of inconsolable teenage girls attempting, and largely failing, to come to terms with the news.

But the impact was not just felt by teens, with the Manchester Evening News reporting today that workers made over 220 calls to employment law experts requesting compassionate leave following the news.

Between 6.30pm on Wednesday night and 9.30 Thursday morning the Manchester-based Peninsula Group, which also has a base in Dublin, received over 220 calls to its Employer Advice Service.

Alan Price, employment law director with Peninsula, told MEN, “It was a situation you just couldn’t make up.”

@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

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Price was less than sympathetic to claims that the news of Malik’s departure warranted compassionate leave, saying it is applicable “if a close relative dies” – and not when Zayn Malik leaves One Direction.

“While I sympathise with One Direction fans, I hardly think this qualified as compassionate leave,” he said.

“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.”

Price said it wasn’t unprecedented however, with a similar wave of pop-centric grief rendering work impossible for many when Take That split in 1996.

“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,” he said.

“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 left the group just days after leaving their tour citing “stress”. He had been with the group since its beginning, almost five years ago.

“I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart," he said.

"I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight,” he added.

The group said they will continue as a four-piece.