DH is several thousand miles away on a work trip and today, thankfully on a leave day, I was not at work.
DS2 started with flu like symptoms last night and by my bedtime was delirious, feverish and vomiting.
We had a disturbed night and lazy morning and after being sick first thing, he has kept a little plain food down.
Being pre-emptive, I phoned work and explained the situation to my boss, explaining my other half is abroad at work and having arranged for DS2 to go over night (tonight) to my sister’s to have some time with his little cousins, this can no longer happen and it is possible that I may not be able to attend work, but that if he wasn’t sick or feverish over night and was fine in the morning, I’d see what he was like when he wakes up, and then take him the 10 mile trip in the opposite direction to work and leave him with my sister then come into work, which would likely mean I’d not make it on time. I told her I’d try my best to come in if at all possible.
My boss started asking me if I’d like to take it as leave when our organisation has a up to 5 day paid carers leave a year in EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES when there isn’t enough time to organise alternative care in order to attend work.
This conversation happened at three pm today and I indicated that I’d already applied for leave several weeks ago and included tomorrow as well only for it to be rejected because three colleagues will already be on annual leave and the policy is not to go over that.
Is that really justifiable that I could have arranged alternative childcare, when all my local friends and my sister have kids themselves so might get the bug, and up until half an hour ago, DS2 hasn’t gotten out of bed since yesterday afternoon? I’ve had a good few days leave over this Easter holidays and this is one of those days that don’t “fit” with my days off.
I feeling like I’m missing something.
AIBU or is she a jobsworth with the notion that the payment is coming out of her own pocket and not that of the public sector organisation for which it work?