Do you take time off work when kids are sick?

[summerinthesun]

I'm about to start a new fulltime job, and my DD is about to start a new nursery. I'm anticipating her getting loads of bugs at the start, and I think it would go down really badly at my new job if I'm off loads to look after her.

My mum lives about 2hrs away, but she is really the only person who could look after her apart from me.

Just wondering what other lone parents do. Do you take time off and does your work get annoyed?

If it's just a runny nose or cough, I send them to school. If not, I'm lucky that usually I can work from home if I need to. Work are fine about this usually. If I can't do that (eg if I have a meeting I need to make), I badger my ex to have them, but he won't always. I have once or twice called in saying I'm sick in order to care for a sick child .

Personally I'd wait until you've settled into your new job a few weeks and get a feel for what others do. You're unlikely to be the only person with children who get ill sometimes. And try to give your DD an easy time out of nursery (no late nights, lots of rest, etc) at first whilst she settles in to reduce the chance of her getting run down and ill.

You could get your mum up if your DD is ill for more than a day or two - eg if she gets chicken pox or something.

Legally your employer has to give you time off to care for her if it's an emergency (eg she's just gone ill that day) though they don't have to pay you. Lots of employers will let you take it as holiday or unpaid leave, or make up the hours missed some other time.

thanks, I didn't think about working from home, I could probably do that now and then.

thanks for the advice on dd starting nursery, I'll defo try and stick to her 7pm bedtime

I am a single mum who works full time but I am also an employer as it is my company - so I see all sides.
You are entitled to emergency time - so for example - if your DD gets chicken pocs - you can take the first day (at least) - would your family be able to come up after that? they don't have to pay you but a lot do.
I have to confess to finding it tough as they do get a lot of bugs at nursery - but as a friend said at the time and she was right - when they go to school - and your life is more settled they get nothing and he hasn't.
Great idea calling yourself in sick lol I did that and it's my own business!! (I have 15 staff). and great idea working from home - I also did that!
It will be fine, difficult at times but fine.

My nursery knew my circumstances and helped out i.e. took him when their rules said he should have been at home - not that I ever sent him in really unwell - you just can't instinct kicks in and you want to be with them.
I once sent a photo of him covered in spots with a message `sorry my mummy can't be there today but I need her' - reality check !!
It's a really short time and will pass very quickly - great you are preparing for it though.

Saying you're sick is good advice if you have to take a lot of time off. I am in exactly the same situation but i haven't started a new job yet. It's tricky, but I'm sure you're brilliant at your job and that they wouldn't want to let the odd day off affect things

"Save" a week of annual leave for emergencies. If you are allowed to work flexi time, be the first in the office, half an hour here and there can easily build up in time you can take off at a time you need it most.

I understand that there are a lot of bugs in nursery but she doesn't have to catch them all. A good diet helps enourmously to keep illness at bay.

Oddly enough I have been off yesterday and today looking after my two who are both getting over a nasty sick bug. It's difficult. I don't think it goes down very well. If I can I will arrange someone else to look after them (close friends/ family) but it is often not possible. I've never been able to lie about being the one who is ill, even though I would get paid if I did that.
I'm a bit calmer about it than I used to be, because I have no choice, and my first priority is looking after my children. I'm getting a bit better at not worrying about things I cannot change.

I have to take time off when dd is ill (she had chicken pox recently, and a vomiting bug and then an ear infection!!) I literally have nobody to look after so if she isn't well enough to go to nursery then I have to take the day off and its a complete nightmare, unpaid leave as well so it really impacts me financially.It doesn't go down well at work as they don't understand how I have nobody to look after her except me or nursery!

Well my work don't know I'm a single parent, and they don't yet know I'm pregnant aswell! I'm going to seem like the employee from hell!

I'm going to go in half an hour early every day anyway, although we don't get flexitime. Just to make sure I look willing, and to make sure I'm not too badly affected by train delays etc.

misspricklepants- I have the same problem as theres only me but my employer isnt very child frlendly either and this doesnt help. The other week I had to take a day off as my son was really unwell and they made me feel so guilty I came in and did a half day : 0(. Its not easy....