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?

Is your productivity low due to the poorly child? Or spending time posting on Mumsnet during workinghours?

As someone who regularly works from home with a sick child. It depends on how sick they are. When they aren’t actually that ill I find them the hardest to get work done. Often I’ll use my flexi and finish early or take a couple of hrs off in the afternoon.

If they are proper ill I find they are happy to curl up on the sofa next to me and watch films. I just balance my laptop on the arm and I can get loads of work done. Me tending to her, like making her a drink or cleaning up her sick, giving her some cuddles, getting medicine etc, is no different to having a chat to someone in the office for 5/10mins or grabbing a drink/coffee away from my desk.
if you don’t feel u can work then just tell them ur child is too unwell and u are taking time off.

I'm assuming that this is either a reverse (a coworker is WFH with a sick child) or just a bashing of WFH. Nothing else makes the OP's posts into something reasonable (and explains lack of question answering).

Why not paid time off? I get 4 days paid time off for child sickness. That would help during the worst of the chickenpox if the child is needing a lot of care and attention, then either unpaid leave or wfh when feeling better but still contagious.

Chicken pox lasts for ages. It's a bit tough right before all the spots come out but once you actually know it's chicken pox its just a matter of keeping the fluids up and letting them rest. Working from home sounds like a good idea.

Why does this thread feel like an anti work from home post.

Yep!!!

I am so glad I am no longer an employer

So did you just want paid leave for not being at work which wasn't deducted from your AL? I don't understand what you want from them tbh. I think they're being decent letting you WFH!

Agree it's fine if an employer wants to offer that as part of their package, but it doesn't sound like OPs does? Because you'd surely open with that otherwise.

I had to take a week of annual leave for dd1. She was 18 months and poorly.
I vaccinated next child!

If they're happy with that though, they're just giving you the option.

Mine and DHs jobs were essential during lockdown, but we had no childcare and had to both wfh with a baby and a toddler. I'm sure our employers were aware that productivity was down but there was no other option

@Wfhsucks Surely you'd need to take unpaid parental leave or paid annual leave?

if your employer allows people who dont WFH paid time off and hasnt allowed you paid time off, then yes that is unfair. If however they have offered you an alternative to unpaid time off, then I dont think that's unfair. People who dont WFH may see it as unfair you get a different option.

I am genuinely confused here - isn't the bonus of hybrid working that you are sometimes able to flex your personal life around your work life? If you cannot work and want to take it as leave then I'm sure you're employer has options - annual leave, parental leave, emergency leave... My workplace allows one day emergency leave and then additional days if really needed / unpaid leave if it's a longer-term thing. By the time my kids were both at school, it was super helpful that I could carry on working from home - I wouldn't do quite as much of course but I could keep up on emails and avoid having someone cover me. I'm grateful for this flexibility.

Your employer sounds great but if this plan doesn't work for you just take the time as whatever leave is most appropriate for you.

Out of interest, what do they accept as proof? My in laws look after my DD for 2 days a week, but I can’t prove that. Or how do you prove your partner is a SAHP?

It ought to be something more employers offer, I mean. Thankfully its part of the collective agreement in my sector so has to be offered.

They probably think they are being helpful to you saying that! As in, not saying you have to take a day of annual leave (often referred to as “precious annual leave” on here) or a day of unpaid parental leave.

But those two options are open to you.

You can’t expect them to say, ok just have a free extra day off - it’s not fair to other employees.

How old is your son and how much care does he need? If a toddler or feverish and throwing up etc. then yes I think it’s unreasonable. But if a bit older and just watching TV all day then you might be a bit slower but it’s not much disruption

I had a friend in the same position and it gave us the kick up the arse to get ours sorted!

So seeing as your employer’s flexibility is an issue for you, why don’t you take annual or unpaid leave?

Have you actually asked to take the annual leave or unpaid leave, op? I think you need to speak up if that's your preference.

If you want to be paid for the day, then wfh is a fair compromise. Pretty normal to set up a sick dc on the sofa watching movies while you get on with things I'd have said, I've done this many times.

I think they are doing you a favour rather than only allowing a day's unpaid leave, they probably assumed you'd prefer that!

I was self employed when dc1 had it and lost a whole week of work/ earnings!

Also vaccinated the dc2!

Take a week off unpaid then and stop moaning.

No, if you worked in an office you'd be expected to take a days annual leave or unpaid leave to look after your sick child - which you are entitled to do when WFH as well, so same rules apply here. What your employer is doing is offering you an additional benefit, of being allowed to continue working while your child is sick, because you WFH and can. Its entirely up to you whether you choose to do that, or prefer to lose pay/annual leave.