To take time off work to look after my sick child

[Glitterballofdreams]

My young son has severe tonsillitis, and is completely wiped out with it.
We don’t really have any family members to help out, apart from my parents. Except they barely see our children, probably once a month for a short time (my parents choice) they never visit us and they live 5 min drive from us.
Would you take time off work or ask these absent grandparents to help put?

I would take a day of unpaid emergency dependent's leave.

Obviously you need to ask for time off work.

Parental leave (unpaid) if you have no annual to take.

You say “we” so presumably you split the time off with your husband/ wife/ partner? And also assuming your son is too young for your to wfh whilst he lies in bed/ you don’t have a job that would work for this.

It’s not the grandparents job to care for sick children.

I see my parents almost every day and they’re Amazing with DD, but regardless I’d be taking a day off work to look after my sick child. Unless there’s a massive drip feed about being a crucial project, or very important client or you’ll not be able to make rent or something if you take the day off, I don’t know why you’d ask your parents?

Also assuming you aren’t very young /have very young parents, why would you want to put them at risk of getting unwell when they’re older and potentially less strong in terms of immunity

Don’t know how my post would make you assume anything about age.

A very poorly child will want to be with their parents. Work can wait.

Just going by averages- generally GPs are older people aren’t they…

I’d never expect grandparents to look after a sick child, who could be contagious. Split the time between you and your partner.

I often asked my parents to look after the children when they were sick. But they have always had a very close relationship with them and they were my childcare from when they were babies.

Yes I would take time off work. Very sick little ones need mum in my opinion!

Yes I would (and did) take time off. But days I took off for unpaid parental leave were shared between me and their dad. We don’t have any family within a couple of hundred miles so didn’t have any other choice.

DH or I take the day off, depending on who is doing what at work.

Agree
I would ask your parents OP
I'm sorry that they don't make themselves available

Of course yanbu to take time off to look after your sick child. But if you have a partner make sure they take their turn taking time off too.

I would use annual leave or something unpaid, or if possible ask to work flexibly & make up time, swap days if part time. I wouldn't expect to take a paid sick day if Im not unwell myself.