AIBU to think working from home with chickenpox child is unfair?

[Wfhsucks]

So I called work this morning as my 5 year old son has chicken pox and they advised for
me to still work (from home) I am really struggling juggling everything and I don’t think it is fair as I couldn’t take him into the office and be expected to work?

So your options were
A:WFH
B: AL
or
C:Unpaid leave

And you could have opted for B or C when offered A?

And you think you’ve been treated unfairly?

If I have that correct, then you should absolutely go to HR or your union… and make sure all your coworkers know you did it. I mean how dare those sons of bitches do that to you. It should never happen again to anyone. Is there a government office you can report them to as well? Maybe consult a lawyer?

Do you have leave you could take or can you request unpaid leave?

They will appreciate you may be less available and productive but they will be aware and can make allowances.

I wouldn’t find it so difficult to have a 5 year old with chicken pox and manage to work pretty productivity at home - if he was 5 months that would be different.

Working from home is not new and was also one option with a sick DC pre pandemic, depending on the job and access to work laptop etc. It’s obviously more widespread now.

If it’s not working go back to them and say and request leave.

So many people asking what you wanted to happen OP, it was my first thought too. You clearly wanted to take a week off, paid, but won’t say so, which is why you’re pissy about them telling you to WFH.

I actually think the employer was being very generous. This is life when you have children and work for most people, the forced option to avoid unpaid or annual leave is negated.

I think that’s a fair option, or take parental unpaid leave. If your child is needing some attention at times then catch up in the evenings or take some AL for shorter days.

What are you wanting? A week’s special leave? If that’s what you want, ask your employer. At least try working with your child there, they suggested it so will surely expect reduced productivity.

Sorry your DC is ill.

Regarding WFH, I don't think you're being reasonable.

WFH is a relatively new concept for some of us who raised children and worked full-time. I wouldn't have been allowed the option. I'd have had to take dependent leave in order to be able to stay home and monitor illness. Otherwise, my child would have been ill with no supervision.

But, unless your child is constantly ill or incapacitated in some way (which I would hope was not the case with chickenpox or you'd go to the hospital), WFH shouldn't be that much of a burden, surely?

Don't you just check-in, or leave them in the same room with you so you can be there if needed?

Not sure what your job is, but I can't see that your DC would need you hands-on 100% of the time with 100% focus at 5 years of age?

When I had chickenpox at that age, I was on the couch, watching cartoons with chicken soup and taking fever meds as/when needed.

If it bothers you so much, why did you not get him vaccinated? its a completely preventable illness!
Otherwise, use annual leave like everyone else.

So take unpaid leave, you are not expecting them to pay you to sit at home with your child are you?

@Wfhsucks take time off or leave your job. Your employer sounds very supportive and understanding and I now assume tolerant, many wouldn’t be. I don’t understand the lack of respect you are showing them. If this had been the other way around, what would you have done/said/expected?

If you don’t want to work say sorry I’ll need to take an unpaid day off, or ask if you can use annual leave.

I am genuinely confused, even more so having read the posts.

• So you're not able to take DS to work as he is ill
• but you usually can take him
• but you usually work from home anyway

Probs me being obtuse.

• I hope that he recovers soon.🌺🌻

(Edit - forgot the flowers!)

I think your employer could be opening themselves up to litigation when they have told you to mind your child and work at the same time , if some accident befell him.

Surely it’s easier for you to work from
home & still keep an eye on him?

Where did they tell her to do that? Offering someone the option is not at all telling her to. And as OP has refused to come back and clarify what her options are I think it's fair to assume there were indeed options. For some reason she just didn't like WFH being an option.

Take a days holiday then

So what happens for the remainder of the time he will be home for chickenpox?
Ask to work limited hours or in time off with any paid leave, as he improves to work part time?
Surely no you would not go into a office with chickenpox in the house eitherway.

@Wfhsucks "Yes but if it was something else, I wouldn’t be allowed to take him into with me. Same rules should apply with WFH"

They do. You can take unpaid leave to look after your child. But to be honest, if your employer has offered you the option to still work and earn money then I think they're being quite understanding. And you already work from home anyway. My son had chickenpox at around age 5 and he didn't need a huge amount of attention. I don't understand the big deal.

No and I wouldn’t do it. Do you need to make calls/ have meetings in the day. I would say my five year old at home makes too much noise so I cannot work. I thought most companies had changed their policies after covid to say you couldn’t wfh without childcare in place anyway!?

Presumably you can afford to take a week or more off unpaid or don’t need your annual leave for school holidays, perhaps your partner has school holidays off.
The working parents in my team would be grateful for discretion to wfh if child sick so they get paid and don’t burn through annual leave they need to cover school holidays.

A poorly 5 year old is likely to be napping or lethargic on sofa watching tv/ipad.

No you are wrong I take paid dependant emergency leave. I can’t afford any deductions in my wages either and my five year old when off school for being ‘sick’ still always seems to be running around and playing in the house so I wouldn’t be able to wfh either

'Emergency dependant leave' is usually a day whilst you make alternative arrangements so I'd double check that you will actually get paid for the duration of your child's illness ...

Fair to say that paid dependent leave to cover a full illness is not a universal perk! People who don't have access to that might have to make different decisions.

So cynical im guessing your job doesnt offer this. Sorry I thought it was universal paid dependant emergency leave from an employer and yes I have been in the position of my child being off with chicken pox before and had paid dependant emergency leave granted.

Just log in, do fuck all work, care for your son and log off at end of day.

You have time to post on MN so I doubt you are that busy hun

Emergency Leave for Dependents is a day 1 statutory right for employees in the UK.