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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

IrisTs · 30/01/2019 18:01

Citizens advice bureau!free advice and if sacked possible claim of unfair dismissal as you have done more than 2 years.

Citizens Advice: What to do if you need time off

Speak to your manager - Different employers have different policies. They may allow you to take paid time off, annual leave or to make up the hours later in the week.Request parental leave - If you need more than a week off, ask for parental leave. You will have to have been working for your employer for more than a year.Request dependant leave - this is for use in emergencies. If your manager refuses, you may have to leave anyway. If they try to discipline or sack you for leaving you can get support from Citizens Advice.

angelfacecuti75 · 30/01/2019 18:05

Do you get dla for your premature child? As they often hace rules where u have to claim (in my old work they did anyway) dla for them to be considered "disabled" and differemt rules apply to disabled children than children without these disabilities so if ur ds/dd is disabled because they were premature you are protected by law... please look up parental leave for those with disabled children and see what the law says in terms of this.

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:07

You should have a few days off possible for children sickness, you should have a parental leave accessible but if only your employer accept it.

Parental leave isn't ad hoc.

Is there any possibility that you could be allowed to work from home? If one of your children has a long term condition then it might be considered a "reasonable adjustment", just a suggestion

Working from home is working. Not looking after a sick child.

Raynasmum2015 · 30/01/2019 18:09

Boysandbuses but sick children usually sleep so if the OP was able to work from home then she would be able to do so.

Liketoshop · 30/01/2019 18:10

Sadly you're no longer reliable and colleagues are having to cover. I had to have back up in these situations as single mum mortgage etc etc so either have reliable back up or leave.

busyhonestchildcarer · 30/01/2019 18:10

Very empathetic!!!

Maryjoyce · 30/01/2019 18:11

If she didn’t disclose that a child is disabled before beginning to work for them it won’t make any difference.
Also without been horrible if it was my business I’d not keep you on. A business is a business to make money it’s not there to fund someone not working continuously.

angelfacecuti75 · 30/01/2019 18:11

Ps they cant by law sack u because of maternity leave x I think you'd probably have a case for unfair dismissal if so. Don't worry yet they might just give you a warning -maybe look at getting an au pair or child tax credits or something to help with childcare costs (fyi child tax credit people will only help if u use an Ofsted registered nursery or child minder) and fgs join a union (they mightn't be able to help 4a month but it sounds like u need support at worj /with this process). The turn tk us benefits calculator wpuld be a good place to start.

Raynasmum2015 · 30/01/2019 18:13

Boysandbuses "parental leave isn't ad hoc"?? So do you think children plan to be sick at particular times?

hayleycappo · 30/01/2019 18:15

Wow, I don’t think original poster needs a telling off! She has no help, childcare costs are extortionate (they’re £80 per day in my area). I’d be sympathising. She knows she’s had too much time off. She’s tried to work as a single parent with two young kids. I’d rather her try than just claim benefits. Too many people on soap boxes in this World. I can’t imagine the stress she’s under...I bet she doesn’t feel any better after some of these comments!

Jellyrunner · 30/01/2019 18:16

I do think a nanny is your best solution. Not sure where you are but if you go on the childcare app you will see plenty there who charge circa £12 an hour. That’s £120 a day for you. Then if kiddies are sick you have cover. Find an ofsted registered one and you will still get the free hours when they are at appropriate age. I trust you are getting childcare vouchers or tax free childcare money? If you go sort this out and go to work with this as your plan you have a better chance of keeping your job. It is hard with little ones, my 1 year old was sick the first week I got back from maternity and me and my OH had to take time off. I felt awful, but with a nanny I could have gone to work. Any reason why not?

Raynasmum2015 · 30/01/2019 18:16

angelfacecuti75 sacking because of maternity leave actually comes under sex discrimination, either way they won't want that on their shoulders

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:16

Boysandbuses but sick children usually sleep so if the OP was able to work from home then she would be able to do so.

Really sick kids always sleep? No they don't depends on why they are ill. Besides which working from home means work your full shifts the kids aren't going to sleep or entertain themseleves for 8 hours.

Ps they cant by law sack u because of maternity leave x I think you'd probably have a case for unfair dismissal if so.

Who said they could? Or that they were even trying to?

Raynasmum2015 · 30/01/2019 18:17

Totally agree Hayley

Buggerbuggerbuggerargh · 30/01/2019 18:19

I work from home but ds is at nursery. However when he has been ill I've still managed to work from home as he's just been conked out on the sofa. On the rare occasions that's not been the case I make up my hours in the evening.

More companies ought to be set up for flexible and home working. Ours is absolutely brilliant for that and the work doesn't suffer.

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:19

Boysandbuses "parental leave isn't ad hoc"?? So do you think children plan to be sick at particular times?

Look up parental leave. It's not as hoc. You need to apply in advance for it and your employer can refuse and offer an alternate time. It also has to be in blocks of weeks, unless your child is registered disabled and that has been disclosed to the employer.

There's rules around parental leave. Not sure who you think I am to think the rules were my decision.

Raynasmum2015 · 30/01/2019 18:19

Boysandbuses you'd be surprised actually. I'm beginning to wonder if you actually know anything about children

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:20

angelfacecuti75 sacking because of maternity leave actually comes under sex discrimination, either way they won't want that on their shoulders

What's that got to do with anything. The employer hasn't even hinted at this.

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:21

Boysandbuses you'd be surprised actually. I'm beginning to wonder if you actually know anything about children

What the fuck? Yes I do know having brought up separate. A child who is vomiting and got the shits, will be vomiting and shitting themseleves. You can't sort that and do a full days work.

I don't think you know anything about working so there you go.

Nicknacky · 30/01/2019 18:22

There is so much utter nonsense being posted on this page, it’s unreal.

boys I’m not referring to you, btw!

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:23

boysI’m not referring to you, btw!

You want to point out what's nonsense?

Nicknacky · 30/01/2019 18:25

boys I’m agreeing with you.

In particular the comments about parental leave and sacking her because of maternity leave.

Boysandbuses · 30/01/2019 18:26

Sorry.....I totally mis read it.

Raynasmum2015 · 30/01/2019 18:26

Boysandbuses I don't think you know anything about basic manners and how to deal with people so there you go!

annoyedofnorwich · 30/01/2019 18:27

8 or 9 weeks worth since Sept.. that's not far off half! Difficult situation all round but I can see why there's a problem.

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