is this what you hsve to do at work if your child is unwell?? Feel i might lose my job

[yournamepls]

Or does it depend where you work?

I have been told I have to take annual leave when dc is off sick. I’m fast running out as he’s had everything going since January and his dad does absolutely zero childcare (we are separated and he pays maintenance).

what happens when I run out? Do I take sick leave? Could I end up losing my job because of this?

For context I’m in decent pay and love my job, I am really struggling mentally with the impact this is having.

You are supposed to take annual or unpaid leave and they are allowed to refuse like all leave requests. But of course some employer are more generous and it depends on your role. Both DH and I are allowed to work from home with sick child. No leave needed. This was since before covid.

I had to quit my job because I had no help. Husband works offshore so only me when the children were young. After chicken pox, tonsillitis, countless fevery heavy colds, slapped cheek, a hospital admission, I had no annual leave left. I took unpaid leave a few times but further requests were refused but I was pressured out of my role after a meeting asking why my parents couldn't help out.

My parents were happy to come for dinner each week but have never wanted to watch him. Anyone with help is very lucky.

Unpaid leave.

Or look for a new job where you can wfh.

I work in the NHS, we get special leave, annual leave or unpaid for when child is sick. Check your policy at wwork. Also can child's grandparents or dad help at all?

Annual leave or unpaid parental leave. Special leave in certain circumstances and all monitored/tracked.

When DD was in nursery, both myef and (now ex) H used all our leave on her illnesses. It was rough

This is why a lot of women end up changing jobs or going part time when their children are small. You might need to consider finding a workplace that is more flexible in its approach. Now is a good time to move given the job market.

Can't believe the father gets off scot free and leaves it all to you. Is there any chance of that changing?

I've been blessed with very understanding managers over the years. On paper yes it's supposed to be leave of some kind, but I have never had to use annual leave or take unpaid leave. In the early days I was told to "work from home" despite not having a work laptop nor the type of work that could actually be done at home. The kids are older now, but I can actually work from home. I am so, so grateful for my managers' relaxed and pragmatic approach,their support enabled me to stay in work, it helped I didn't take the piss and did ensure DH and I split it as much as possible. As a manager I take a similar approach.

IIRC you can take a day or maybe two of unpaid emergency carers leave then use annual leave. I'm a lone parent so did this a few times.
Save the full weeks of unpaid parental leave for school holidays. That can't be taken as individual days.

OP! Sorry you r experiencing this!

Yes, it's one of the crap parts of parenting! Constantly ill children and juggling this with work. Sadly, it's not the employers fault if your child is ill. In my work place you're expected to make alternative arrangements and still.come to work if your child is ill They r relatively forgiving if it's occasional, and will agree for you to use your annual leave. But after the first day of leave for child sickness, they'd expect you back in the next day as they'd have considered you should have used the day to make arrangements for childcare for the next day (even though noone wants to look after a sick kid!)

Sorry OP, it gets better as children get older, but child sickness is always a pain!

Couldn’t you take the time off but then work it back, ie do an extra hour a day until the hours you’ve taken off are worked back?