to ask managers how they view time off work for kids being ill?

[MaximumHoldMousse]

Hi I would really appreciate some insight please! My preschooler has got an awful bug, keeps vomiting after every drink, really nasty. I was working from home when I had to collect from nursery. I emailed in to explain situation, and that I thought she would sleep so I could continue with work but she stayed awake so I couldn't till late at night (managed to get work done in the end). Today my OH was of with her. She can't go to nursery tomorrow so will have to be off I think. I would just really appreciate anyone who has parents working for them, how do you feel about this? Does it happen a lot? Am really new (1 month) into my job and worried it looks bad.. But then I feel daft for worrying..

tl,dr: how annoyed would you be if your employee was off work because their child was ill?

Thanks! x

[AmysTiara]

I had a feeling Lea was going to say she was in the US.

Our work is okay with the odd day as long it isn't too often.

[lertgush]

As a US net taxpayer I'd like to point out that LeaLeander doesn't speak for us all. Also that the 47% that Mitt Romney referred to included pensioners who'd paid into SS their whole working lives.

I guess it's easy to believe that childcare is possible to find for a sick kid when you've never had to do it yourself.

I moved to the US and - having no local family to help out any more - I made a point of building up contacts so I had someone to care for my children if I was ill, or they were ill while I was working.

For a while my neighbour would step in... but then she moved away and the house was left empty for two years. My other neighbours all worked too.

I used a nanny agency... but it cost $150 placement fee plus a minimum of $12 an hour for a nanny.

I tried friends but as I worked full-time I couldn't look after their children in return, so they soon stopped picking up the phone when I called.

Obviously there's some magic solution I'm missing.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Isn't it a bit hypocritical to say "years of fighting for equality" when referring to the fact that men and women should both take time off when it comes to looking after a sick child?

It shouldn't fall specifically to mum or dad, it should be shared. Obviously this can't always happen but it's not relevant when talking about workplace equality. You could argue the opposite, mothers taking the time off are causing an issue for the child free women who can work longer hours are a problem.

I'm not saying that is the case but I don't believe this is an equality or discrimination issue. I say that as a woman, a mother and a manager.

[MaximumHoldMousse]

My situation's now changed ... me and OH have now got it too so although i was in work today (my mum had DD) and yesterday (OH had her), I am definitely not going in tomorrow. Think is norovirus ARGGGGGGHH

[ameliameerkat]

"Buckinbronco Wed 23-Mar-16 13:46:38
I don't think it does apply to Me, I am just wary of people who claim things like that. How do you go on holiday then? If companies are set up poorly ie when a team member is on holiday it is significant effort and causes resentment for another to cover their job it's a problem. "
Holidays are fine. Holidays are planned for, and workload is shared and re-prioritised. Unexpected leave, for whatever reason, is (unsurprisingly) harder to manage! The way I reduce my team members' stress due to someone being off is to pick up whatever work is required to be done myself. This doesn't do much for my stress levels!!

[StitchesInTime]

Oh dear.

Hope you recover quickly, OP.

[ShoopShoop]

I'm so disappointed with some of the views on here. I'm not sure we're ever going to close the gender pay gap or break the glass ceiling if employers are fearful of women employees shouldering all the responsibility for taking time off to care for children.

As a senior manager and a mother I absolutely sympathise with any colleague who needs to care for sick children (or any dependent). DH and I take it in turns to have annual leave, WFH or time off for dependents when DD is poorly.

My team all have laptops and work issue mobile phones. I would want them to maintain open communication with me and try and make some time up, but I truly believe that it's about give and take - work hard for me and I'll reward you with flexibility and understanding.

I would contest the view that time off for dependents is there to allow time for alternative childcare arrangements. We have no family within 300 miles. What child minder is going to take a child at short notice who is too poorly to go to school?!

OP - in my first month at my current employer, I had 3 days off sick myself and took 2 days off to care for DD who was sick. I simply maintained a really open dialogue with my exec level boss as well as the rest of my team. I worked as much as I could when I (or DD) felt up to it. These things happen. If you're open and honest, don't abuse the system and see able to demonstrate you're committed to the job and see good at what you do, I really cannot see you would have anything to worry about.

[CallousAndStrange]

I agree that responsibility should be shared (where possible, obviously in the case of a single parent this may be more difficult). I mentioned equality as in this case, Lea stated that women with children were being excluded from her workplace, not people with children generally.

Sorry you're so sick Maximum, norovirus is horrible

[HarlotBronte]

I guess it's easy to believe that childcare is possible to find for a sick kid when you've never had to do it yourself.

Yes there was more than a touch of the Jamie Oliver breastfeeding to that particular paragraph, wasn't there? I've never had to do it either, I've got family help, but I have enough contact with reality to understand that it's simply impossible sometimes.

[HermioneJeanGranger]

Get better soon, OP. Norovirus is horrible!