my dp thinks im going to end up loosing my job... but there is nothing i can do...

[juicychops]

i have been at my job for 4 and a half months, so say 18 weeks. I only work 2 days per week.

Since starting work i have already had about 6 weeks off.

i am a single parent and if my ds has to be off from nursery then there is only me to look after him.

so far ive had to have 2 weeks off work as he had bad conjunctivitis, 1 week for a throat infection, one week for diarreah, and i had to have 2 weeks off as i got ds's throat infection and had it really bad.

i have now had to leave work early today as i have a bad stomach from a kebab and was sick twice at work. Im now feeling fine and want to go back to work, but i now have diarreah and its pretty uncontrollable so cant really go in.

My manager had already spoken to me about my absences and even though only 4 days were sick days and the rest i used my holiday, its obviously a concern to them.


i dont know what to do about it. I cant help it if my ds or me is ill. Im not usually ever ill, its just unfortunate its all at once. am i going to end up getting the sack?

[juicychops]

bump

[NAB3]

Surely you can't get the sack fo rbeing ill? Have you got Doctor's notes for all the times off poorly?

[juicychops]

no but i did go to the docs when i had the throat infection. they only need doctors notes for 5+ days absent

[themoon66]

Are you on a six month probationary period? Most new starters are at big companies.

And yes, they can sack you for having a lot of time off. Even if it is due to illness.

[Lolly68]

They cant sack you for being ill but they can sack you for not honouring your contracted hours.

[juicychops]

oh poo, its not looking good for me then. yes im on a 6 month probation

[slayerette]

Although you can't help it if you or your ds are ill, I know that if ds is poorly, I am only allowed one day off - ie, enough time to arrange for someone to look after him. But I'm not actually allowed to take the time off myself to look after him. So yes, they might be able to take disciplinary action - have you checked what it says about time off for dependents in your contract?

[bozza]

Is there any chance of you working at home when DS is ill? Or making up the hours on a different day?

[tissy]

can't dp take some time off work?

[bookthief]

As you say, it's been unfortunate that everything has happened at once. Hopefully you'll be ok now until the end of your probation and will be able to show that it was an unfortunate blip.

Would it be worth asking for an interim meeting about your progress and saying that you're worried that this unavoidable absence may be affecting the way they perceive you. Lay it on a bit thick maybe about how much you're enjoying the job/good company etc..?

[Isababel]

Agree about DP taking some time off when required.

We only get about 10 days abscence for family related issues but that is because the organisation I work for is extremely generous.

[flowerybeanbag]

Juicy you have had some bad luck but you are at risk of losing your job.
In the first year of employment you don't have much in the way of rights when it comes to things like unfair dismissal I'm afraid.
Other than a few very specific exceptions, until then they can basically just sack you, no disciplinary procedures or reasons needed. Having said that many organisations do operate a proper procedure for staff with less than 1 year service as a matter of good practice. Your contract or staff handbook will say what applies to you.

Aside from that, many organisations do have a probationary period for new starters, 3 or 6 months is fairly usual, and if it isn't working out this is sometimes taken as an opportunity to call it a day. Do you have a probationary period and if so, when is it up?

6 weeks out of 18 is an awful lot of time off, whatever the reason, especially for a new starter, and I would be very concerned indeed if I were your manager.
You say you are a single parent but you do have a DP? Could he not share some of the care, especially as you are vulnerable in your employment at the moment? Or is there really no other option at all?
I would be inclined in your situation not to sit back and wait for your manager to do something. If you are committed to this job, be proactive, ask for a meeting with your manager, sit down with him/her, say you are concerned about the run of bad luck you have had lately and that it may affect your future with the organisation. You are very committed to your new role, and would like to discuss how you can demonstrate this and how you can increase your chances of progressing in your new role.

It may be too late, but worth a shot, and I would think any manager would be impressed by that approach rather than if you just sit there and do nothing waiting for a decision.

If that conversation goes positively, do absolutely everything you possibly can to make alternative emergency arrangements should DS be ill again, so that for the next few months you have a spotless attendance record.

[flowerybeanbag]

bookthief x post was typing my essay!

[juicychops]

Hi thanks for everyone's advice. i wouldn't ask dp to have time off work to look after ds. He's not his son, plus we dont even live together, plus he has a full time job as a store manager and he cant have time off if it isn't important. Plus as he isn't his son, i wouldn't want to ask anyway