Sick leave with toddler?

[Whatisgoingoff2024]

How do you manage sick leave with your other half when your toddler is unwell? Since returning to work part time this has always fell one me. My partner is the higher earner but his company have a crazy policy that means he’s only entitled to statutory pay if he takes time off. This makes a huge difference on pay.

I’m a civil servant and always been supported with using annual leave or special emergency leave in the circumstances. However, I fall behind on my work and deadlines as a result which is starting to leave me feeling stressed out. I’m really keen to progress in the next 18 months and can’t help but feel I’m at a disadvantage. I wish my partners company was more accommodating!

If he is off because the toddler is sick it wouldn't be sick leave anyway. It would be emergency parental leave which is unpaid in most companies.

80% of the time it is me that takes the leave to cover it. I take annual leave or emergency leave. I tend to keep about 5 days of annual leave for just in case.
DH has a much more flexible job but busier. He usually covers it if he has no meeting scheduled and it WFH that day. His work allow him to work before I got to work then make the hours up later in the evening or further along in the week as along as it doesn't impact deadlines.

I do them all. DH is the high earner and doesn’t get paid time off. Like you I’m public sector and have a generous amount of special leave and generous annual leave allowance. I’ve got 2 sicky kids though so usually end up having to use a couple of days annual leave too.

It doesn’t bother me. It’s stressful at the time but the work gets picked up eventually, and it’s just how it is. They aren’t so little forever. Toddler needs my attention but when the bigger one is sick now I can pretty much stick him in front of the telly for the day and crack on.