Emergency surgery for 3yo - work response

[CustardLover]

My DS had to have emergency surgery after chipping his elbow (I know!) and I was off work for two days - firstly A&E and then the op and an overnight stay. Work has now asked me whether I want to log it as unpaid parental leave or take my last two days of holiday. This feels pretty petty to me; I answered emails and took a call when DS was in surgery! AIBU to ask them to reconsider and categorise as compassionate leave? Those of you who are employers, WWYD?

We are in Canada - stingy, and legal too.

In fact, the employer is not actually obligated to give you the 10 days off, merely 4% if your income as "vacation pay".

So, you may take days and withdraw equivalent funds from the accrued vacation pay, or you may just withdraw the funds and still work (which the overwhelming majority of employees in this field do).

If your child was off school sick, you wouldn't expect to be paid, you'd just be grateful that work were ok with you not being there and weren't demanding you arrange childcare and come in. Equality means than anyone can now take unpaid leave or holiday in this situation. My Mum would have worried about losing her job, not whether work paid her for it! A good employee might ask if your DS is ok, it's not unreasonable for them to send a few emails or calls, it was up to you whether to take them. My husband's had to answer emails and take calls whilst on paid holiday, literally on the beach so I understand the pressure to answer but you were free to ignore it...