Off wprk due tp children being sick...advice please

[MrsFruitcake]

I have some issues with work regarding my health - I have had over the amount of sickness that my company agrees is normal due to Endometriosis. I am awaiting a date for a laparoscopy and the occupational health at work is now on my back over it all.

Yesterday and today, both my children have been suffering from D&V, as is my DM, who usually looks after them. I rang work yesterday and spoke to my manager and explained that I couldn't come in, DH had an important presentation to sort out so couldn't take time off and DM was sick so I needed to stay at home.

My question is, can my employer penalise me for this and what is the usual procedure for something like this? Does any other form of leave exist to cover cases like this?

I am expecting to make up the hours before this months 'off duty' rota ends at the end of the month but I am sure they will not be happy with me.

I should probably also mention that I submitted a request to change working hours 2 months ago which was accepted (I went from a 9am start to a 9.30am start to enable me to take the DCs to their Nan's and school in good time).

Any advice appreciated please.

Apologise for the shocking spelling - been up half the night cleaning up sick and comforting children, so am surviving on coffee and adrenaline alone today!

Most policies say you have a right to time off to make arrangements to put care in place not for ongoing care. Though you should check your own handbook. We have a policy where time does need to be made up as others will have had had to work extra and you need to repay at a time that suits them. This is all in our handbook.

Was there a reason their dad couldnt stay home with them as you already have a poor absence record?

You're entitled to unpaid time off to make alternative childcare arrangements in an emergency situation.

Yes, employers can discipline you if they wish if you have taken excessive amounts of time off.

I hope the situation is resolved without too much hassle.

Yes, my husband is in the middle of some very important contract negotiations with a customer and had to meet with them in the City yesterday and today.

Will see what happens tomorrow I suppose. Fingers crossed!

I would make it clear if it isn't already that it was an emergency due to your usual alternate being unavailable as also sick. We have unpaid leave to cover this sort of thing but if your Work pays you for emergency days if yOu make up the time then I guess just propse you do this (or take it as annual leave?).

Does your DH ever do such cover if DMZ is unavailable?

Employers have differing allowances for this.
I used to work for the local authority - we were 'allowed' up to 6 days per annum of 'dependents leave'. so if our chlidren were sick we were permitted to take that time. I assume it was unpaid, it was a few years ago. This was at the line manager's discretion. I was called in to the manager as i had had 4 days (it was almost the end of that financial year) and to ensure that I was aware that it was up to them... ??
We also worked on a flexi time basis, so could make up the oddhalf day here and there - again at manager's discretion.

However when I worked for a large supermarket - nada. You had to take it out of your holiday allowance, or just pretend to be ill yourself.

There's a bit about parental leave and time off in emergencies here

Shrimp I'm not sure that would be legal now re the supermarket
Op can you access your contract and employee handbook? It should make it clear.

You're allowed thirteen weeks unpaid leave for children under the age of 5 but you are supposed to agree it with your employer.

Happy that's parental leave which is different and is taken a week at a time.

I'm allowed to ring up and request annual leave with no notice, but then it usually isn't catastrophic if my work isn't covered for a day.
I keep several days leave each year just in case the kids are ill come December, and then either use it just before Christmas, or carry it over.

For D&V, DH and I would juggle it. For something longer -chickenpox which were sure to get at some point, we would have to beg DM or MIL to travel up to help out.

Sympathies Mrs Fruitcake I have endo as well.

Luckily things are reasonably under control now, but like you I was worried about breaching sickness thresholds. I was reading about illnesses that are counted as long term disabilities and I think there are different rules for these i.e. you can't be penalised for them and from my reading of it I felt that Endo might apply. Not sure if it does or doesn't but it might be worth reading up a bit more about it, the Endometriosis UK usually has good info and contacting your union on it.

Time off for emergencies should be considered differently from sick leave.