AIBU to think working from home with chickenpox child is unfair?

Really disagree with you, OP, and your thinking lends itself to a very draconian sense of work productivity. Though I'm not quite sure what you're asking – what were you requesting from work?

Chicken pox frequently takes kids out of school for 2 weeks. It's life.Yes productivity may slow, but it's a one off occurrence, and it all comes out in the wash for a normal, decently hard working employee. Some weeks you will be flying high on your game, others you won't be.

If the parents wants to take parental or annual leave and not WFH with unwell child, then yes that should be accommodated.

Oh, @Wfhsucksdidn’t come back to respond to any of the posts to the OP? There’s a shock.

I don't get what has happened? I mean did you say you needed time off and then they said you would lose your job if you took time off, and you must work from home?

Otherwise they suggested that if you didn't want the time off unpaid you could work from home? In which case you say no actually he's 5, poorly and uncomfortable and needs me so I want the time off as leave. I really do see the issue.

If you don’t think you can wfh and be productive whilst your child is poorly then it’s up to you to book leave or take unpaid parental leave. Work sound like they’re being really flexible and you’re still moaning

So why didn’t you offer to take unpaid leave then?

@WorkingMum90 Ah that makes a lot of sense, I think you are right.

I think this is a reverse & op is annoyed about a colleague being allowed to WFH with a sick child.

Well OP, you have the privilege of being able to WFH which can't be assumed or taken for granted.
My experience of children with cp is they tend to be sleepy, itchy, lethargic etc. So surely he can chill out in the bed /settee.
This is what some people explain that their children do when they are WFH during evenings, school holidays etc.
WFH has created entitlement on a scale like never before.
I hope your son feels better soon.

I guess it depends on the employer. We work from home exclusively, and my employer allows us to work with sick kids at home, as long as it doesn't disrupt our work.

But being paid for it isn't. Everywhere I've worked (private and publuc sector) I could have the day off, but I'd have to choose between losing a day's pay or losing a day's annual leave. I'd be delighted at being offered a day WfH around my sick child instead.

My poorly child who had chicken pox became even more challenging! It was like a poison creating extreme behaviour, impossible to work and look after.

This seems to be a double edged sword for office workers.

I assumed management doesn't encourage wfh while looking after a child? Very odd and unprofessional to suggest it. They should have taken it as not working because you are looking after your child. If you didn't work in an office there would no other option so why when you work in an office are you expected to do both?

You have a very generous employer if they will pay full pay for whole time you have a sick child that isn’t usual in England. I’m public sector with pretty generous policies and paid special leave to care for a dependant is very limited eg to accompany a child at hospital for an operation. Several days off caring for a 5 yr old with chicken pox would be granted but unpaid leave.

Emergency Leave for Dependents is a day 1 statutory right for employees in the UK.

Just log in, do fuck all work, care for your son and log off at end of day.

You have time to post on MN so I doubt you are that busy hun

So cynical im guessing your job doesnt offer this. Sorry I thought it was universal paid dependant emergency leave from an employer and yes I have been in the position of my child being off with chicken pox before and had paid dependant emergency leave granted.

Fair to say that paid dependent leave to cover a full illness is not a universal perk! People who don't have access to that might have to make different decisions.

'Emergency dependant leave' is usually a day whilst you make alternative arrangements so I'd double check that you will actually get paid for the duration of your child's illness ...

No you are wrong I take paid dependant emergency leave. I can’t afford any deductions in my wages either and my five year old when off school for being ‘sick’ still always seems to be running around and playing in the house so I wouldn’t be able to wfh either

Presumably you can afford to take a week or more off unpaid or don’t need your annual leave for school holidays, perhaps your partner has school holidays off.
The working parents in my team would be grateful for discretion to wfh if child sick so they get paid and don’t burn through annual leave they need to cover school holidays.

A poorly 5 year old is likely to be napping or lethargic on sofa watching tv/ipad.

No and I wouldn’t do it. Do you need to make calls/ have meetings in the day. I would say my five year old at home makes too much noise so I cannot work. I thought most companies had changed their policies after covid to say you couldn’t wfh without childcare in place anyway!?

@Wfhsucks "Yes but if it was something else, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into with me. Same rules should apply with WFH"

They do. You can take unpaid leave to look after your child. But to be honest, if your employer has offered you the option to still work and earn money then I think they're being quite understanding. And you already work from home anyway. My son had chickenpox at around age 5 and he didn't need a huge amount of attention. I don't understand the big deal.

So what happens for the remainder of the time he will be home for chickenpox?
Ask to work limited hours or in time off with any paid leave, as he improves to work part time?
Surely no you would not go into a office with chickenpox in the house eitherway.

Take a days holiday then