Taking time off for emergency care of a dependent..

[FrayedKnot]

Ok, it's happened, I've been in my new job nearly 3 months & DS has fairly certainly got chickenpox.

DH is away until Thurs pm so I'm going to at least ahve to take tomorrow and Thursday off. Hopefully DH will take Friday & after that...gulp!

Do most people take time off in this way (i.e. unpaid leave) or do you take holiday?

Ask. I was gobsmacked to find that I can take FIVE emergency parental days in a year, paid, before I dip into either paid or unpaid parental leave.
I'm not sure whether this is a new innovation in my organisation but it was certainly welcome news to me...and I used it for chickenpox, which is one of the few illnesses they get now where you need to take a few days off on the trot.
Do check because employer policies differ. You will rarely encounter eyerolling over CP in my experience because it is a no-brainer that every child gets it once only (well usually) and they usually get it before they turn five.
(Was going to add a jaunty aside about trying to get past the GP's dragonish receptionists, but maybe not )

I get a certain number of day's paid too. Not sure how many 3 or 5 I think. I did however get a doctor's note from my GP to cover me when DD had conjuctivitus recently. It said "dfamily reasons" as the reason behind it - so it went on my sick days instead.

DH doesn't technically, but because of the nature of his work he can choose to work from home for a day or so.

my employer also gives 5 paid 'carers day' a year. they are to look after sick dependants during emergencies - so exactly things like chicken pox. If all these were used up i would have to take annual leave.

Depends on your employer. dh can apply for 'carer's leave' if for example I am ill and can't look after the children - but is discretionary. He's had to this twice and got paid both times.

Some employers call it special leave _ I've had to do it for my widowed mum too following an operation. No-one else to look after basically.

no-one else to look after her I meant.

No I am fairly sure they will be unpaid days .

I have already had to take 2 days off sick myself with tonsillitis and they weren't paid because I am still within my 3 month probabtionary period.

Gaah! I will have made a loss this month.

No problem getting Drs appointments round here though - I must know how to work the system, he he.

Hula did your doctor really give you a sick note because DD had conjunctivitis? DD has had it loads of times and it never occurred to me that I could do such a thing. Although TBH she has never had 5 days off with it.

I usually take annual leave if the kids are ill or (if it is DS and he is not too bad) cajole DH into working at home. I was extremely fortunate that DS and DD both had chicken pox while I was on maternity leave. Poor little 5 month old DD was less fortunate.

I work ina school so no annual leave to use, either take unpaid or swap days with my job share

Yes. I went to GP to have it confirmed and to get some AB drops for her. Explained that I had just had time off the previous week (holiday leave) and work wouldn't be impressed - not moaning, just chat as you do. And she said that she'd write me a doctor's note to cover me for the absence. I have nver known it to happen befor eeither, but thought it was a great idea.

DD needed 2 days from nursery - the two I work. I had had been in the Tuesday, then had to have the Wed/Thurs off. It was clear by the weekend.

Ours are let back to nursery 24 hours after treatment. They've never been miserable with conj. so you end up sat round the house with this cooped up child...