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

Where did they tell her to do that? Offering someone the option is not at all telling her to. And as OP has refused to come back and clarify what her options are I think it's fair to assume there were indeed options. For some reason she just didn't like WFH being an option.

Surely it’s easier for you to work from
home & still keep an eye on him?

I think your employer could be opening themselves up to litigation when they have told you to mind your child and work at the same time , if some accident befell him.

I am genuinely confused, even more so having read the posts.

• So you're not able to take DS to work as he is ill
• but you usually can take him
• but you usually work from home anyway

Probs me being obtuse.

• I hope that he recovers soon.🌺🌻

(Edit - forgot the flowers!)

If you don’t want to work say sorry I’ll need to take an unpaid day off, or ask if you can use annual leave.

@Wfhsucks take time off or leave your job. Your employer sounds very supportive and understanding and I now assume tolerant, many wouldn’t be. I don’t understand the lack of respect you are showing them. If this had been the other way around, what would you have done/said/expected?

So take unpaid leave, you are not expecting them to pay you to sit at home with your child are you?

If it bothers you so much, why did you not get him vaccinated? its a completely preventable illness!
Otherwise, use annual leave like everyone else.

Sorry your DC is ill.

Regarding WFH, I don't think you're being reasonable.

WFH is a relatively new concept for some of us who raised children and worked full-time. I wouldn't have been allowed the option. I'd have had to take dependent leave in order to be able to stay home and monitor illness. Otherwise, my child would have been ill with no supervision.

But, unless your child is constantly ill or incapacitated in some way (which I would hope was not the case with chickenpox or you'd go to the hospital), WFH shouldn't be that much of a burden, surely?

Don't you just check-in, or leave them in the same room with you so you can be there if needed?

Not sure what your job is, but I can't see that your DC would need you hands-on 100% of the time with 100% focus at 5 years of age?

When I had chickenpox at that age, I was on the couch, watching cartoons with chicken soup and taking fever meds as/when needed.

What are you wanting? A week’s special leave? If that’s what you want, ask your employer. At least try working with your child there, they suggested it so will surely expect reduced productivity.

I think that’s a fair option, or take parental unpaid leave. If your child is needing some attention at times then catch up in the evenings or take some AL for shorter days.

So many people asking what you wanted to happen OP, it was my first thought too. You clearly wanted to take a week off, paid, but won’t say so, which is why you’re pissy about them telling you to WFH.

I actually think the employer was being very generous. This is life when you have children and work for most people, the forced option to avoid unpaid or annual leave is negated.

Do you have leave you could take or can you request unpaid leave?

They will appreciate you may be less available and productive but they will be aware and can make allowances.

I wouldn’t find it so difficult to have a 5 year old with chicken pox and manage to work pretty productivity at home - if he was 5 months that would be different.

Working from home is not new and was also one option with a sick DC pre pandemic, depending on the job and access to work laptop etc. It’s obviously more widespread now.

If it’s not working go back to them and say and request leave.

So your options were
A:WFH
B: AL
or
C:Unpaid leave

And you could have opted for B or C when offered A?

And you think you’ve been treated unfairly?

If I have that correct, then you should absolutely go to HR or your union… and make sure all your coworkers know you did it. I mean how dare those sons of bitches do that to you. It should never happen again to anyone. Is there a government office you can report them to as well? Maybe consult a lawyer?

Why cant you take annual leave? But totally agree you cant work and parent

So would you rather use your paid holiday or take unpaid leave?

For me it would depend on how much my child needed me. When my eldest had pox, he was so itchy he cried, scratched sat in the bath for ours and just wanted cuddles, so I couldn't have gotten much done had I been working. My youngest was just spotty but not unwell and so would have been able to amuse herself quite readily whilst I worked.

Agree. What is the purpose of this thread?

It's either click-bait to generate traffic,
or the OP is - er, how can I put this nicely - a bit thick with an entitled attitude.

Some employers offer carers leave tbf (tho it tends to be unpaid)

This is such a bizarre thread.

Why would someone complain that their employer is trying to help them out by being flexible and not making them take AL or time off without pay when the employer is kind enough, in this short period of time, to give them a bit of slack ?

Then not come back and answer anyone's questions in the next 10 or 11 hours ?

Depends on the child - when my kids were ill with chicken pox they were quite lethargic and I could have easily worked from home while they slept or watched cartoons. Maybe your situation is different and your child is a handful to look after despite being ill - but it sounds like your complaint is your company want you to take leave if you aren't working but you don't want to - you want to be paid as if you were working but without actually working

I'm sure it depends on the role and the individual.

I could work perfectly well from home supervising a sick 5 year old. They aren't needy toddlers.

You should be grateful they’re allowing you to work from home rather than forcing you to use annual leave or paid parental leave

this is why I prioritized paying for the chicken pox vaccine over anything lux or nice for myself. To avoid this stress. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t do it, seems like madness to me. The pox has just been through my sons nursery and alll that pain for children and stress for parents that could have been avoided for the price of one night in a hotel, one round of Botox or a dinner and wine out for two.

I WFH for several years with my children (with my employers knowledge and permission)
For one day? If they've given you the suggestion and permission it saves you losing money or annual leave I'd be grateful for the offer.

But it does depend what your job actually is? Are you customer facing, answering calls constantly or going in and out of several meetings a day?
Or is it all work you can do, albeit maybe slower and manage to juggle a meeting to another day or shorten it?

I guess they have done it thinking its an option you might prefer. As they know you wont be fully on work but means not taking unpaid leave and you cover a decent amount of work rather than none of your tasks being done
It v much depends on child and how poorly they are/how old etc
If it's impossible, say no can do and take parental leave