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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

289 replies

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:13

So I called work this morning as my 5 year old son has chicken pox and they advised for
me to still work (from home) I am really struggling juggling everything and I don’t think it is fair as I couldn’t take him into the office and be expected to work?

OP posts:
RedRiverShore6 · 11/05/2026 11:31

Maybe OP was hoping she could have a few days off paid sick leave

Shinyandnew1 · 11/05/2026 11:29

If you are u happy about their offer, take a days Annual Leave or say you’ll take it unpaid.

What do you actually want them to offer you? A day off work on full pay? If so, then it’s you taking the piss.

takealettermsjones · 11/05/2026 11:29

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:26

I don’t see it as a huge favour at all. This is the thing because people work from home they expect to do less work. I don’t agree

Show quote history

Why are you ignoring the multiple posters saying take leave then? As PPs have said, obviously some people can juggle the two things. If you can't, take leave.

Unless this is not actually happening and you just wanted to start a thread about lazy WFHers?

PurpleLovecats · 11/05/2026 11:29

So why not just call them now and say it’s not working out and you’ll be taking further time as unpaid leave?

BauhausOfEliott · 11/05/2026 11:27

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:23

Surely they are aware that my productivity won’t be as good and obviously with my son being here I am
not focused. I always work from home anyway but I genuinely believe that you cannot possibly work when you are looking after a child

Take a day's leave, then.

dontmalbeconme · 11/05/2026 11:27

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:23

Surely they are aware that my productivity won’t be as good and obviously with my son being here I am
not focused. I always work from home anyway but I genuinely believe that you cannot possibly work when you are looking after a child

So why didn't you request unpaid parental leave or annual leave instead? He's likely to be unwell for a week or so, if you can afford a week without pay, or are prepared to lose a weeks worth of annual leave, then call them and say that you'd prefer annusl leave/unpaid leave.

patioh · 11/05/2026 11:27

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:24

I just didn’t think employers allowed it to be honest.

You're lucky your employee allows you to WFH with a sick child - not all do, in which case you're expected to take unpaid leave or use annual leave.

If you feel unable to work with your child at home though, annual leave or unpaid may be your only options unless you can get someone (family member perhaps) to provide some childcare.

museumum · 11/05/2026 11:26

Lots of people would prefer to WFH rather than take a days leave or unpaid. Whoever you spoke to probably thought they were doing you a favour.

Why didn't you say to your employer that he needs your attention and you would need to take leave - annual or unpaid? You are unreasonable because you have to speak up. Not because you don't want to wfh with a child at home - I avoided that till my ds was at secondary school age.

Original poster
Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:26

Happytaytos · 11/05/2026 11:24

They're doing you a huge favour continuing to pay you while you're WFH as opposed to being off on no pay.

Ask for no pay if you don't want to.

I don’t see it as a huge favour at all. This is the thing because people work from home they expect to do less work. I don’t agree

OP posts:
NoGarlic · 11/05/2026 11:25

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:16

No, this my point, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into the office so why am I expected to work with him whilst I am at home?

Show quote history

You couldn't take him into the office because he is infectious.

The only person he's infecting at home is you, and that's already a done deal.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 11/05/2026 11:25

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:23

Surely they are aware that my productivity won’t be as good and obviously with my son being here I am
not focused. I always work from home anyway but I genuinely believe that you cannot possibly work when you are looking after a child

Well plenty of people can obviously. But if you can’t that’s totally understandable, but you need to be clear about that with them and explain you won’t be working from home

Lomonald · 11/05/2026 11:25

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:23

Surely they are aware that my productivity won’t be as good and obviously with my son being here I am
not focused. I always work from home anyway but I genuinely believe that you cannot possibly work when you are looking after a child

You should take a day off because your child is sick, what do you expect your company to do ?

Overthebow · 11/05/2026 11:25

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:24

I just didn’t think employers allowed it to be honest.

Some do for emergency situations like this. But if you don't want to then ask for annual leave or unpaid leave instead? I often do a mix for multiple days.

Happytaytos · 11/05/2026 11:24

They're doing you a huge favour continuing to pay you while you're WFH as opposed to being off on no pay.

Ask for no pay if you don't want to.

McSpoot · 11/05/2026 11:24

Why are you refusing to tell us what you expected. A paid day-off?

Snoken · 11/05/2026 11:24

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:23

Surely they are aware that my productivity won’t be as good and obviously with my son being here I am
not focused. I always work from home anyway but I genuinely believe that you cannot possibly work when you are looking after a child

I think they would assume you cannot focus 100% on work but they are probably thinking you could work around the care needs for your child. For me that was always a positive when I had sick children.

What is it that you would like? Would you rather take unpaid leave?

Original poster
Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:24

I just didn’t think employers allowed it to be honest.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 11/05/2026 11:23

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:16

No, this my point, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into the office so why am I expected to work with him whilst I am at home?

Show quote history

Could you take annual leave or unpaid parental leave instead? Did you ask for that as an option?

purplecorkheart · 11/05/2026 11:23

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:16

No, this my point, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into the office so why am I expected to work with him whilst I am at home?

Show quote history

So you take leave parental/annual/unpaid if you do not want to work from home. You are hardly suggesting that your employer give you paid time off just because your son is sick. I don't really see your point about not being able to bring him into the office.

Original poster
Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:23

Surely they are aware that my productivity won’t be as good and obviously with my son being here I am
not focused. I always work from home anyway but I genuinely believe that you cannot possibly work when you are looking after a child

OP posts:
WydeStrype · 11/05/2026 11:22

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:16

No, this my point, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into the office so why am I expected to work with him whilst I am at home?

Show quote history

For me this is the beauty of WFH.

I would not be able to continue attending work with an ill child, but I can avoid taking unpaid leave if WFH and flex around their needs.

My youngest had a sick bug in the winter and was off all week (as had to add in the 48 hrs to clear). It would have been awful of I had had to be off for all that time but instead I worked while he napped and when he didn't need me/was happy in front of the tv or curled up next to me reading or playing. I also got through all the washing 🤢 and cleaning in between emails etc.

RedRiverShore6 · 11/05/2026 11:21

Perhaps they thought they were doing you a favour so you didn't lose pay or holiday

Lomonald · 11/05/2026 11:21

Wfhsucks · 11/05/2026 11:16

No, this my point, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into the office so why am I expected to work with him whilst I am at home?

Show quote history

I guess they think WFH is giving you leeway without using up your AL, sorry I wasn't being obtuse i genuinely misread your post.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 11/05/2026 11:19

You are an adult, they can’t see or know your child, you should have said ‘no I can’t, he needs my care, I’m taking emergency parental leave’. Many would be happy to not loose pay for this but if you aren’t then say so.

Snorlaxo · 11/05/2026 11:19

You wouldn’t take him to work because he’s contagious.

It sounds like a classic case of people projecting their experience on others. Bet the person who suggested you work from home assumes that your son is sleeping most of the day (like their child) or they have a stay at home spouse who looks after the child when they are ill so they don’t know what it’s like looking after a sick child.