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?

You have a very generous employer if they will pay full pay for whole time you have a sick child that isn’t usual in England. I’m public sector with pretty generous policies and paid special leave to care for a dependant is very limited eg to accompany a child at hospital for an operation. Several days off caring for a 5 yr old with chicken pox would be granted but unpaid leave.

I assumed management doesn't encourage wfh while looking after a child? Very odd and unprofessional to suggest it. They should have taken it as not working because you are looking after your child. If you didn't work in an office there would no other option so why when you work in an office are you expected to do both?

This seems to be a double edged sword for office workers.

My poorly child who had chicken pox became even more challenging! It was like a poison creating extreme behaviour, impossible to work and look after.

But being paid for it isn't. Everywhere I've worked (private and publuc sector) I could have the day off, but I'd have to choose between losing a day's pay or losing a day's annual leave. I'd be delighted at being offered a day WfH around my sick child instead.

I guess it depends on the employer. We work from home exclusively, and my employer allows us to work with sick kids at home, as long as it doesn't disrupt our work.

Well OP, you have the privilege of being able to WFH which can't be assumed or taken for granted.
My experience of children with cp is they tend to be sleepy, itchy, lethargic etc. So surely he can chill out in the bed /settee.
This is what some people explain that their children do when they are WFH during evenings, school holidays etc.
WFH has created entitlement on a scale like never before.
I hope your son feels better soon.

I think this is a reverse & op is annoyed about a colleague being allowed to WFH with a sick child.

@WorkingMum90 Ah that makes a lot of sense, I think you are right.

So why didn’t you offer to take unpaid leave then?

If you don’t think you can wfh and be productive whilst your child is poorly then it’s up to you to book leave or take unpaid parental leave. Work sound like they’re being really flexible and you’re still moaning

I don't get what has happened? I mean did you say you needed time off and then they said you would lose your job if you took time off, and you must work from home?

Otherwise they suggested that if you didn't want the time off unpaid you could work from home? In which case you say no actually he's 5, poorly and uncomfortable and needs me so I want the time off as leave. I really do see the issue.

Oh, @Wfhsucksdidn’t come back to respond to any of the posts to the OP? There’s a shock.

Really disagree with you, OP, and your thinking lends itself to a very draconian sense of work productivity. Though I'm not quite sure what you're asking – what were you requesting from work?

Chicken pox frequently takes kids out of school for 2 weeks. It's life.Yes productivity may slow, but it's a one off occurrence, and it all comes out in the wash for a normal, decently hard working employee. Some weeks you will be flying high on your game, others you won't be.

If the parents wants to take parental or annual leave and not WFH with unwell child, then yes that should be accommodated.