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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sacked due to sick children?

583 replies

Spamup · 28/01/2019 18:56

Regular user but have NC for this!

My children, DS and DD both under 3 have several bouts of sickness before christmas and today my DS is not well which has resulted in a hospital admission - my employet has casually mentioned before about how i would probably be better off not working but nothing has been written down regarding this - ff to this evening, it has been sent to the HR department for formal disciplinary process to start and i am in bits - i am a lone parent and no family or friends to support me with emergancy childcare as they all work full time - can i really lose my job over this? I have bills etc to pay and worked a long time in this field to get to where i am now :(

OP posts:
Charlie97 · 28/01/2019 18:57

How long have you worked there?

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 28/01/2019 18:58

How long have you been employed for?

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 28/01/2019 18:58

What is company policy on emergency dependents leave?

TheBigBangRocks · 28/01/2019 18:59

How much time have you actually had off?

You are covered for the first day by dependents leave by law, it's there to make alternative arrangements and not designed for doing the actual childcare for the length of the absence.

How long have you worked for them? Under two years they can dismiss without a reason.

greenelephantscarf · 28/01/2019 19:00

yes you can.
where is dc's dad? could he step in?
if don't have family/friends to step in you needto sign up with a nanny or babysitter service

BarbarianMum · 28/01/2019 19:01

How much work have you been missing?

ilovesooty · 28/01/2019 19:02

If you can't attend work sufficiently regularly to fulfil the demands of your employment your employer may have little choice I'm afraid.

Racecardriver · 28/01/2019 19:04

Well think about it from your employers perspective. You haven’t been fired yet. Try to hold on to your job if you can and arrange some kind of childcare.

RoboticSealpup · 28/01/2019 19:05

So sorry to hear this. That really sucks. Try calling ACAS or by Maternity Action for advice!

NorthEndGal · 28/01/2019 19:05

How many shifts had you missed before this time?

LagunaBubbles · 28/01/2019 19:06

Does your work not have a Parental leave Policy?

arethereanyleftatall · 28/01/2019 19:07

It depends how much time you're talking about. Was it paid or unpaid?

Gazelda · 28/01/2019 19:08

How much work have you missed?

Limensoda · 28/01/2019 19:11

Your employer is a CF to say you'd be better off not working.
If you've been there less than two years they can sack you for no real reason if they want rid of you

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 28/01/2019 19:13

Read up on your disciplinary process. This usually starts with official HR meeting. Then another with a warning after the next occurrence within a set timescale. Then possibly another warning if it occurs again in a timescale. Then if it occurs again they can move to dismissal.

Under 2 years though you can be fired quite easily though.

Original poster
Spamup · 28/01/2019 19:13

All the time i have had off has been unpaid! Their dad is not involved through his own choice . I fully appreciate it from.an employer's point of view - i have been employed with them for 5 years but the way i feel now is i just want to hand in my resignation as i would be mortified if i got sacked :( yes i suppose it has probably been about 8 or 9 weeks in total between last September and now - but i only work 2 days a week - if i was full time it would have been less but nursery costs me £1300 per month for their two full days and i cannot afford for them to do any extra.

OP posts:
yorkshirepud44 · 28/01/2019 19:13

Don't panic. This is probably a process they need to follow but it doesn't automatically mean you'll be sacked.

I'm hr and you have my utmost sympathy. I'm also a lone parent and if you have children prone to sickness it's beyond stressful.

Hopefully your employer will be understanding- they won't want to lose you if you're otherwise performing.

It depends on the length and frequency of your absences and their impact. Does your organisation have a staff handbook or published policies you can check to see how they plan on handling this?

user139328237 · 28/01/2019 19:13

This reply has been deleted

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Unfinishedkitchen · 28/01/2019 19:13

When you say sickness, what kind of sickness? Do they have underlying illnesses which make them really sick so they have to be out of nursery and you out of work regularly?

I’m not saying you do this but I do know of parents who rip their kids out of school at the first sign of a cold.

Original poster
Spamup · 28/01/2019 19:15

We became a new company before christmas (currently protected by TUPE) but my manager has said it will follow on from the previous meeting (because i had a year off with PND and domestic violence) so i feel at a loss :(

OP posts:
User758172 · 28/01/2019 19:15

That’s a hell of a lot of time off work. I can see your employer’s point of view I’m afraid.

Lazypuppy · 28/01/2019 19:15

8 or 9 weeks over 5 months is basically half,that is a hell of alot of time off unfortunately

Coronapop · 28/01/2019 19:16

Check all relevant company policies including attendance policy. The short answer is yes, you could have your employment terminated, but there will be a process to be gone through so if it is initiated check if they follow it to the letter.

yorkshirepud44 · 28/01/2019 19:17

8 or 9 weeks just since September? That is extremely high I'm afraid Sad

Would a nanny or au pair be an option? Your childcare costs are astronomical and it might prevent you having to be off with minor illnesses.

Lazypuppy · 28/01/2019 19:18

Also £1300 for 2x 2 days seems very very high.

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