To think i’m going to lose my job

[Caspersback]

I recently started a new job 5 weeks ago. I have had a lot going on with my child but managed to sort it every time. Most recently I was in the hospital until 4.30am and still turned up to work. I’ve been congratulated with my hard work already and my manager has been really pleased with me so far

Today I got a call from my daughter’s nursery to say she’s not very well and asked me to collect her. My partner is working away until tonight but usually his work is more flexible so he is having her if she’s not well this week.
Anyway I called my manager to inform her that I would need to leave a couple of hours early. She did not sound impress and when I apologised she said these things happen. She just sounded off and i’m so so worried this will reflect badly on me

Kindly op, you are probably just being anxious (I am very similar and tend to catastrophise) have you had to actually take any other time off?

How much time off have you had in 5 weeks?

I’ve not had any time off. Just this afternoon to pick up dd.

I do tend to catastrophise and have anxiety but my manager just did not sound pleased

I’m sure it’s ok one afternoon. I had so much time off when mine started nursery. Thankfully I’d been with my employer 5yrs by that point

A few hours over a 5 week period really isn't that bad and unfortunately these things do happen. Most places really wouldn't be looking to sack someone on this basis (the time and cost involved to recruit wouldn't make it remotely worth it). Its possible your manager is frustrated but as long as it doesn't become a regular thing they will get over it. Is your job one that can be done from home so you could make up the hours in the evening?

It’s a Monday afternoon. If it was a Friday it might have looked dodgy (in some people’s eyes). Don’t worry, keep a steady effort in the job and you’ll be fine. I hope your DD is ok.

Your manager is probably stressed for some other reason, try not to worry.

Your manager might be irked, but this is far from a sacking offence.

If this is the first time you've been off, and your work so far has been good, you'll be fine. If it was happening every week, it would be a different story, but it's not.

You shouldn't have to, but can you make a point of 'It's usually DH that has her, and he will be tomorrow if she needs tomorrow off, but it's such bad luck he's away today...'. It generally goes down better of employers know staff are spreading the load rather than it always being you.

From a manager perspective, I'd be thinking this is a 'notice and keep and eye on' situation rather than anything more at this stage. Let's be honest, it's not great form early on so I can understand some mild disgruntlement, but it's also not a biggie, so no panic needed :)

A lot of whether it really matters in the future depends on the kind of job, whether your work affects what others do re deadlines etc, or if others need to pick up any slack, and just the general workplace culture around this kind of thing. Some workplaces are much more flexible than others, hopefully you have a nice one :)

You didn't mention I don't think, but it would help from your manager's perspective if you made it clear to them you intended to make up the time by eg coming in early the next day, or if you asked how / if it should be logged as paid or unpaid leave.

But you're not getting the sack, don't worry :)

@Echio

I would think nothing of the sort!

I'm a manager. If anyone on my team has personal issues (childcare, elderly parents or other) the priority is to accommodate them.

A good worker will be professional & take responsibility for any time missed, and catch up with work.

If someone is under-performing it will become apparent in other ways - the time off is neither here nor there.

A member of staff had to leave early once after 5 weeks and you would think it’s something to watch? Really?

Your manager was not pleased. Who wants to hear that an employee needs to leave early? It sucks. BUT that doesn’t mean that the manager blames you, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you’ll lose your job, that’s catastrophising.

Chill out.

I honestly wouldn't worry, but if you are then you can always raise it with them tomorrow - just a casual 'thanks very much for accommodating me leaving early, it was outwith my control obviously but I appreciated it and hopefully it won't happen again. I'll make up the time on Thursday (or whatever)'

I'm the sort of anxious person who worries that people are annoyed with me, so it helps to confront that and give them the opportunity to either say they are or aren't. Appreciate this isn't the approach for everyone!

This is just part of being a working parent. I think most employers will be understanding in these circumstances providing you work hard and there are no other issues.

My daughter broke her leg on my 2nd day in a new job and I had to leave and take her to a&e. These things happen. Don't worry about it. Hope your daughter is better soon.

https://www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants/problems-when-you-take-time-off

Hey OP, I work for a trade union, we get asked this sort of stuff frequently. Have a look at the link above. They should not be disciplining you for it. As you're under two years' service, technically they can dismiss you for pretty much any reason, so they might go in from another angle. HOWEVER - I think this sounds extremely unlikely at this stage, you sound anxious and like you are catastrophising. Honestly, you wouldn't want to work anywhere where the employer would treat you badly because of an unwell child - it's a bit of a red flag for them being 'dodgy' in other ways too.

Yeah I would, within my last work environment where I managed a team, last-minute leave like this would have been quite an inconvenience on those working that day. I would just 'notice' it informally because any sign of regularity of this sort of thing happening would cause challenges.

Equally, other jobs - most jobs I imagine - it really doesn't matter at all. We don't know the set-up here.

last-minute leave like this would have been quite an inconvenience on those working that day. I would just 'notice' it informally because any sign of regularity of this sort of thing happening would cause challenges.

It doesn't matter tho.

It's life - employee's children get sick or they have other personal matters. Unfortunately that will inconvenience their colleagues

There is no need to note it.

Just manage their usual performance and work output. If they work hard & effectively, they'll more than make up for any occasional absences. We all will have these at times for a variety of reasons.

Yes, I would as a manager. It wouldn’t be on the level of starting a log or anything (much less firing) but I would tuck it away.

5 weeks is not enough time to establish yourself one way or another so everything becomes a datapoint.

As long as you’re aware it’s literally protected in law and if you tried to hold that against her you’re in trouble.

See above.

I honestly cannot fathom noting one incident in a staff member who’s had nothing but positive feedback.

Well I agree with her. As for "see above", what is "literally protected in law" in this scenario?

Emergency leave for dependents.

I think you need to realise that someone sounding cheesed off doesn’t mean you did something wrong or something bad will happen.

It may not a big thing, but if it’s something your manager will have to cover, on a busy day they could probably do without it. With kindness it is childlike to expect people to be actively lovely all the time - you are expecting them to wear a mask.

If it’s the sort of job where an absence like this is really inconvenient, try very hard not to have it happen again in your probation period. She will remember it but as long as it’s a one off take her at her word that these things happen.