Work asking me to come in

[Emeraldrings]

DS is in hospital with a high temperature and because hes lethargic and not eaten since lunchtime yesterday. I have been up with him since 4am trying to cool him down.
111 advised hospital so I phoned work who said okay. I have now received a message asking me to come to work after the hospital if I can.
This feels wrong. DS is currently asleep on me in a hospital cubicle and he's , not a baby
I don't know when we'll be seen, when we'll be home or if it will be today. I'm in hospital with my sick child. Are they taking the piss by asking me to come in?

You are legally entitled to take emergency time off.

How old is your child?

They said ‘if you can’. And you can’t.

Ignore, ds is your priority

"My son is in hospital and I am with him so no I will not be in work today"
That's all you need to say. Say it once and don't answer any phone calls from them.

Unpaid and to arrange childcare time. Maybe they are short staffed, maybe OP takes a lot of time off, maybe they're just checking see if OP will be in at all. Where is baby's dad - can he take the day off?

You can’t, so tough

Well they asked you to come in if you can. If you can’t, just say so and don’t come in.

This is a harsh response from work . What you need is for them to sympathise and tell you take the time you need not ask you to come if you can - as then the decision/ guilt is on you.

Saying come in if you can might be technically right but whoever said that must be an arsehole!

Sometimes real life needs to take over.

Text them reality of the situation.

I’d be tempted to send them a pic of you holding dc, but you shouldn’t have to do that at all, they’re behaving badly 😡

Hope he gets better soon OP

For me it would very much depend on the phrasing. They might not understand that it's an sickness related hospital trip rather than routine? My daughter was in paeds on Monday for a routine appointment. I booked the whole day off as annual leave as I know how long we can be there and it meant I got to do extra chores in my afternoon. My partner worked before and after the appointment answering emails from the waiting room.

Just let them know you need to take this as an emergency parental leave day. You are entitled to that (though it is unpaid, unless your contract offers something on top of statutory rights). Let them know when you will be in touch today to confirm if you will need tomorrow off too.

Just be polite and factual. Keep everything/ reiterate any messages in writing.

I hope your little boy is seen soon and on the mend!

Even if baby’s dad did come and take over would op be worth anything working whilst her child is poorly in hospital worrying etc

He's 3, not a baby and DH, his dad has done the last 3 sick days so he does more than his fair share and he is coming to the hospital soon but I'm upset. I will be no use at work.
No I won't be in work if he's still at hospital. Would you go in if your child was sick, in hospital?

have now received a message text message?

I'd send something polite and clear to my manager like:

"I am in hospital with my child who has been admitted for emergency treatment, I do not anticipate being able to attend work today as I am not able to leave a young child unattended in hospital as you will understand. I will update you if anything changes."

they said "if you can". You can't so tell them that.

It's not the huge drama you think it is, and you're thinking that way because you have a child in hospital.

I hope DS recovers soon.

No, my work would understand.

Do you work somewhere with minimum legal staffing levels? That is the only circumstance in which the question is ok IMO.

Just message/email back to make it clear that you are at the hospital and your child needs ongoing emergency treatment and you need to remain with him.

That message sounds like someone talking to a teenager. Not to a grown adult.

How? It's a message asking her to come into work after the hospital if she is able to.

For me, it would depend on what your first conversation said. Was it "DC is ill so I wont be in" or more "DC is ill and I don't know what's going to happen, I'll let you know."? The first one is definite, the second leaves room that you might be in.

Yy to something like this OP.

At best they've misunderstood the situation.

Hope you get seen soon.

I told them I was on the way to hospital because I couldn't get his temperature down. I was nearly in tears on the phone.
I expect work have had others phone in sick but they did this last time I was off and he was sick. I went in at lunchtime (only because DDs school were on strike) and they didn't appreciate it at all (manager neatly made me cry) so I don't think they are particularly understanding. Manager takes time off when his 3 kids are sick and it's okay but I'm not supposed to be in hospital with my sick 3 year old

They said if you can. Tbh they’re probably short staffed and don’t know the seriousness of your sons illness. I’d just reply and say sorry but you can’t.

I’d just reply that sorry, you aren’t able to come in today as your son is ill in hospital. And then forget about it and focus on your son.