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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

having to take unpaid leave to pick a sick child up early from school?

108 replies

dalmationdotty · 17/10/2018 13:12

So last week at work, school call mid morning to say DS2 is poorly, they really feel he ought to go home. School usually are pretty robust at keeping kids in welfare and only really call if feel they need to go. DS2 was feeling sick and light headed. Anyway I tell my boss if I can leave at lunchtime after I do my mornings work. Its around 11am. get several more calls from school to say DS2 now being sick. Rush to try and finish off what am doing. Colleague says she will cover me for afternoon. Leave around midday. Anyway today boys says would i like to make up my hours for the afternoon taken off of take it as unpaid leave? I have never taken time off for kids illness before. I usually either bring child to work if not too unwell or have found cover. Also colleague that covered me was asked to invoice for her overtime but she said no its fine as we all cover each other in times of need and if she had to dash off she'd hope work would be fine with it. They tell her how admirable of you, thanks. So I am now making up the hours on my day off, that my colleague has covered free of charge???? Seems wrong?

OP posts:
Original poster
dalmationdotty · 17/10/2018 13:13

boss not boys!!!! typo doh!

OP posts:
Original poster
dalmationdotty · 17/10/2018 13:15

oh and colleague was working a half day that day but stayed on so its not like she was doing two people job for the afternoon just mine!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 17/10/2018 13:15

So you’re expecting to be paid for hours you haven’t actually worked? Sorry but Yabu. It’s normal to have to make up the hours, use annual leave or take unpaid leave.

Acitywallandatrampoline · 17/10/2018 13:17

I would have thought as it was an emergency it would count as carer's leave? I have to take either annual leave or unpaid leave if I know of illness in advance, say my kids have been ill all weekend and I have no childcare for the Monday or whatever. But anytime he has been sick at nursery and it is an emergency, I can take carer's leave and it is paid. However on this government website www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants it does say the leave doesn't have to be paid to you.

RatherBeRiding · 17/10/2018 13:19

But you weren't at work. Regardless of whether or not the work got done by someone else, you weren't at work. Therefore you don't get paid.

As previously said - it is normal practice to expect to make up the hours later or take unpaid leave, unless you are able to claim parental leave but that depends on your organisation.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 17/10/2018 13:20

I would have said it was reasonable for boss to expect you to either make it up or take unpaid leave, until you said that your afternoon work was done by someone who was not paid for it.
Therefore Company is not out of pocket and its up to you to reimburse your colleague by working some of her hours

Rach000 · 17/10/2018 13:20

At my work I can leave early if a child is ill as they don't have any choice. I would usually just tell them sorry but I need to leave.
But I would either have to make up my time taken, or take as a holiday or take as unpaid.
Your colleague should have accepted the overtime. Does sound a bit unfair taking money off you and not paying her but it is standard to have to make the time up or take as hol or unpaid.

Hillarious · 17/10/2018 13:20

With my employer, it's give and take. It's a 9-5 job, but sometimes the job might require me to be here earlier or to stay later. I don't make a fuss and I don't expect my employer to make a fuss if I need to take a child for a GP appointment, or go to school. The DC are older now, so I don't need to be home with them if they're ill.

DH also takes responsibility for appointments with the DC. It doesn't all fall to me.

Starlight345 · 17/10/2018 13:21

As far as I am aware normal . You weren’t sick.

Nissemand · 17/10/2018 13:22

Well no, you won't be paid.

Your colleague should be paid for staying to do your job though.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 17/10/2018 13:22

YABU, a hour here or there is understandable but a half a day is pushing it. You are entitled to take time off to care for dependents but your employer is not obliged to pay you. It's a pain (I had to make up two days last month as I couldn't afford to take it unpaid) but totally reasonable.

Also your colleague is very silly for not invoicing for the extra hours she worked. She was covering you being away so she should have got the pay you would have picked up for the shift.

kaytee87 · 17/10/2018 13:22

I think your boss sounds great allowing you the choice of making it up or unpaid and you have the flexibility to take your children to work?!

SleepingStandingUp · 17/10/2018 13:23

Well either they pay our colleague and you take unpaid leave or they don't pay your colleague and pay you the X amount she technically earned. I'd say you cover her for half a day if possible and let her go home.

Tbf it's fair she's paid and you're not

Glumglowworm · 17/10/2018 13:24

Normal where I work

You could take unpaid leave, use annual leave or make the time back. They’re normally pretty flexible as they know many people can’t afford unpaid leave, but they’re not going to pay you to look after your sick child.

Your colleague should’ve accepted the overtime. But the fact that she didn’t doesn’t change the fact that you have no right to be paid for hours you didn’t work.

greendale17 · 17/10/2018 13:24

You left at midday- regardless of someone covering your work why do you think you should be paid for the afternoon?

Lougle · 17/10/2018 13:25

Yes, that's two different issues. Your colleague has a contract with her work. She is entitled to be compensated for working extra hours, and can choose to refuse that if she wishes. You have a contract with your work. Your boss is telling you your options for making up the missing hours.

Gazelda · 17/10/2018 13:26

I can see why you think it unjust, but in my experience it's very normal to either make up the hours or take the time as unpaid.

chipshape · 17/10/2018 13:27

I think it's really mean of the boss. Total lack of good will like that creates a work environment where people work to rule and never do any extra.

Sitranced · 17/10/2018 13:28

Its normal. You make the time up or take it as unpaid leave.

Biancadelriosback · 17/10/2018 13:28

I don't understand what the problem is

mcmooberry · 17/10/2018 13:28

My work is the same, would dock pay in a situation like this and not taking into account the many, many occasions we work late for no extra pay. In your situation I think YANBU because of your colleague covering for you for nothing so that you would not get penalised. Now you know the situation I would insist your colleague DOES get paid.

ScattyCharly · 17/10/2018 13:33

Depends on your type of job.

If you are contacted 9-5 and come in at 9 and leave at 5 then you should make the hours up or take it unpaid.

However if you are contracted 9-5 but often work til 6 or 7 or take work home or answer work stuff regularly out of hours then you’d expect to have the afternoon to look after the ill child for free.

lostelephant · 17/10/2018 13:37

YABU. Why are you expecting to get paid for hours you haven't worked? If this was normal I'm sure everybody would have the "school" ringing them up Wink. Let your coworker accept the overtime she deserves.

MrsReacher1 · 17/10/2018 13:37

The question is would you pay someone working for you, ( eg a nanny/cleaner/plumber/gardener/driving instructor/tutor) for hours not worked in similar circumstances?

I suspect not.

Seniorcitizen1 · 17/10/2018 13:38

As an employer with a small workforce I can never understand why other employers take such a hard line. In my company it is outputs that counts and there is a revognition that there needs to be give and take. There are times when we all need to work over - no overtime pay - in order to meet deadlines, so emergencies such ad yours would not bother me and you would have been paid as normal.