To take my toddler to work...?

[Allthebiscuits]

DS developed a temperature at nursery. My DH left work to pick him up. Nursery policy means he has to be kept off for 48 hours. Fair enough. I thought it would be considerate to let work know asap that I would need to look after my DS on the second day as DH took the first day to look after him. However work claim this isn't an unforeseen illness and are insisting that I apply for dependency leave (which would be granted but possibly without pay). AIBU to take my toddler in to work...? He's not 100% but also not horribly ill.

Depends what do you do?

Where do you work that would allow you to bring a toddler with you?

Well of course you can't! Work is not for children. I am on the fence about this being an unforseen illness. You need a contingency plan...someone else to care for him.

Of course you are. You are not being serious?

It's a school...

No other child care options available.

So what do you do in the school?

Sure he can help you all day.

They'd be crazy to refuse you. In fact why not do it every day and save childcare, they might even pay him!

Next time you'll know not to be so honest, sadly

Nursery policy says keep him off (away from other children) for 48 hours, so you decide it would be reasonable to then take him to a SCHOOL?!

This has to be a wind up

You have to suck it up, this is the reality of parenting. If you have no other options then you have to stay off.

48 hrs exclusion seems a bit excessive, for D&V I could understand but not for a raised temp!

Exactly my thoughts @ladybee28!

Has he still got a temperature?

48 hours after having a temperature?
Unless this is new, this isnt a thing im aware of in a nursery setting

48 hours after last bout of sickness or diarrhoea, yes.
12 hours after giving calpol, yes...

But thats crazy

We can't take the hit financially at the moment. He's not unwell anymore.

Don't be so silly.

Surely your workplace will say "no" so it isn't an option?

YABU child is potentially sick for 48 hours and you want to take them to a school!

How do you plan to look after your toddler child at work? Don’t be ridiculous.

You're entitled to unpaid time off for dependants. Alternatively do you have any holiday/lieu time you could take that would enable you to take the time off with pay?

Agree your nursery sounds quite inflexible- maybe investigate other childcare options like a childminder, although as a pp said most cc options will have restricted periods before child can return after an infectious illness so you'll need a plan in place to deal with it, as much as you can. It's very tough, I know.

As your boss, see how that goes. Jesus Christ.

Thats pretty standard practice surely? They'll authorise the absence but it won't be paid. What more do you want?

You're entitled to unpaid time off for dependants

She has been offered that.

I feel your pain on this one...DH and I both work in the same school and have a small child in nursery with no other childcare options. We have the same rule about 'emergency' leave (we're allowed one day each per year) but have to beg for unpaid leave if we need more time. Family and friends all live far away/work full time. We also struggle with parents' evenings etc. as we obviously both have to be there and have to collect DS from nursery and deliver him to someone who can watch him, then get back to work, all in the 1h15 between the end of school and the start of parents' evening.

Watching closely to see if anyone can solve this problem!