Off with children

[pinklady1107]

Not sure what to do - got called away from work at lunch yesterday daughter was poorly had to collect from school. All fine.
But my colleague and somewhat boss made me feel dreadful asking questions such as is there no one else (no there def isn't) to collect, you should use leave for this type if thing

Basically in a yr I've had 1 1/2 days up to now with sick children.

Am I right in thinking that I get so many days for poorly children? Part of me feels I should work this morning my day off to pay the hrs back but the other part says no one else in my office would do so and it's my day off! It's not like I'm off every mth with them! For back ground I had a day off last week same thing but again only day in a year so I'm hardly ever ill

If it's twice in two weeks that's why your boss ("somewhat" boss?) is noticing it and irritated. Is your child/children's father taking turns?

There is no specific amount of days you are allowed to take for emergencies like this. You are entitled to unpaid emergency dependents' leave, which would be a day or two to deal with an emergency and would include sick children. No limit, but "reasonable".

If you want to make up the time so you don't lose pay and your boss will allow that, then great, but it's up to you, and you are entitled to the unpaid leave if you prefer. Some people prefer using annual leave if that's an option to avoid losing pay.

i assume you are part time so you are off today. in that case i would work this morning to make up the time if it was possible. Being pt makes it worse when you are off, as a % of your working week it is much higher.

I think it's reasonable for an employer to ask an employee what contingencies they have in place should a childcare problem happen, same with any other event.

Employers can resent that it is usually the mother who takes time off, so they are effectively subsidising the father's workplace.

Can you reassure them for the future?

The rules are here so as flowery says, it is a 'reasonable' amount of time but they don't have to pay you.

Thanks for your replies, yes I'm part time I do 30hrs. I didn't mean a somewhat boss I meant to some degree my boss made me feel bad.

I do most of the sick time the children have as I am a single mum, dad doesn't drive so virtually impossible to call on him, but he did the days the school was closed in snow this year so he has effectively done the same as me under emergency circumstances, so yes he does his share. Had he not taken the days off I would've had too

It's a hard call as obviously my children come first and I feel I'm never off with them, don't ever call in myself, last week I really was ill and my dd was yesterday. Nobody else in the office would work the hours they lose back when taking time off for emergencies so I guess my guilt is my own and its up to me to make a decision.
I don't mind having unpaid at all of course.

Thanks for your replies