Stuck for childcare on Wednesday aibu to ask for UPL

[ICanSeeTheSun]

Asked everyone I know to have DS on Wednesday as his school is closed due to the strike.

I have no AL left until April.

I fully support the strike and understand why the teachers are doing it, also teachers are not babysitter or childcare options.

[AuroraSim]

If you have to ask for UPL, you have to.

Or take a day sick.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

I wouldn't call in sick as that will be wrong. I only ever phone in sick if I am.

[WottaTheOdds]

Of course you wouldn't be unreasonable to ask. As an alternative do you work in the kind of environment where you could feasibly take them in and give them loads of sweets, cakes, unimproving comics to keep them quiet ?

Good luck!

PS Please note I would not dream of suggesting an out of the blue migraine!

[WottaTheOdds]

x-post re sickness. Good on ya, I wasn't being serious!

[NurseyWursey]

YANBU

you're fully entitled to unpaid parental leave

[LIZS]

you're fully entitled to unpaid parental leave not necessarily . Does he have any friends he could spend the day with ?

[ICanSeeTheSun]

Can't take him with me.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

LIZS, the small group of friends I have all work as well but have grandparent having their DC. ( thank god for GP)

Mil has an all day hospital appoinment, my parents both work and it's my turn for emergency childcare ( DH did it last time the DC was sick)

[Ragwort]

Are you sure you can't ask a school friend's parent to look after him - I was a SAHM for years and I genuinely never minded working friends asking me to look after their child (especially if they could return the favour by having my child over at the weekend or for a sleepover ).

Otherwise, ask for UPL - it is a nationwide strike, your employer should be aware of it.

[telegramsam]

Do you work every day? If not, could you go into work on a day you wouldn't normally work and have the Wednesday off instead. One of my colleagues is doing this. I suppose it depends what line of work you're in.

Otherwise you can request parental leave depending on age of child.

[NCISaddict]

We have been told that UPL will not be allowed for the strike as it's not an unforseen emergency, ie you have time to organise an alternative. Not quite sure how that works but they are normally very generous with carer's emergency leave.

[WottaTheOdds]

Or is it all possible that one of your parents can have the day off at fairly short notice? I am an employer and would certainly look at this sympathetically if one of my gp employees requested it under these cirx.

Alternatively is there any possibility you could bring forward a day's leave from next year...it's only a week away after all, and hardly taking the piss. None of this is, really. Is there any reason why you hesitate to ask?

[sooperdooper]

Can't you ask to take a days leave from next year's allocation? It's very close to April, that might be ok, if not yes ask for unpaid leave

Or what about his school friends, where are they going? Is there another parent at the school who could have him? Speak to other patents tomorrow when you drop off and see, you could offer to return the favour another time when it's possible for you to be off

[ICanSeeTheSun]

I will ask about using next years holiday, and ask around.

[NurseyWursey]

NCIS it doesn't have to be unplanned though

^Eligible employees can take unpaid parental leave to look after their child’s welfare, eg to:

spend more time with their children
look at new schools
settle children into new childcare arrangements
spend more time with family - eg visiting grandparents^

[ilovesooty]

I think asking for UPL or a day from next year's allocation is perfectly reasonable and I hope your employer is sympathetic.

And good for you for refusing to countenance calling in sick. Hope you get it sorted.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

Has your husband got any leave left?

[MammaTJ]

It is horrible having no one local to help out!

[Mimishimi]

YANBU, that's what it is for. I generally don't take on other kids (unless they're relatives) because I try to take my own out on an outing to museum, zoo etc on those days. It's often cheaper during the week and we don't get the opportunity otherwise.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

Husband does have the option when to take leave as he is told when.