Have to ring in sick - 1st month in new job

[niceglasses]

This is my 4th week in a new p/t job but I am going to have to ring in sick today as my eldest is very sick with a bug. I have no one else to take him. I feel awful.....does this look really bad?

I know there is no option here, I just wondered what perhpas employers may think?

IME employers don't take kindly to people ringing in sick because it's their kids. Could you explain the situation and take a day's holiday?

Oh ok, I can offer that certainly.

Yes I wouldn't ring in sick yourself if you are staying at home because your child is ill. Ask if you can take a day's leave as wordsmith says.

Alternatively you can take unpaid emergency dependents' leave, see here for more information about your entitlements and the kind of scenario that you can use this leave for. For illness of a child it would be a day or two to sort out alternative arrangements, not for the duration of the illness if it's longer than that. Some employers are more generous.

As it's unpaid though, taking some of your annual leave entitlement is probably preferable if they'll allow you to do that.

Hope he's better soon

Just realised that I am of course way too late as you asked this early this morning in advance of ringing in to work!

Oh well, take it as useful information for the future anyway!