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Original poster

Grandparent childcare sick?

16 replies

babyfish2 · 01/12/2021 11:54

Hi, my two children are looked after 2 days a week by their grandparents. This is our only means of childcare, they do not attend a nursery or anything similar. If a grandparent was to fall sick, I wouldn't have any other option but to stay home and look after my children. My partner works away and so can't rely fully on him. Could I be disciplined for having to take time off to care for my children? Thanks.

OP posts:
BingBongToTheMoon · 01/12/2021 12:02

Yes.

Lazypuppy · 01/12/2021 12:02

If it is an excessive amount of time off then yes as you would be likely asking for unpaid leave. If you are taking some of it as annual leave then it won't impact on your record as such

Your employer will probably, and rightly so imo, expect you to have back up childcare in place

Confusedteacher · 01/12/2021 12:07

An occasional thing I would imagine would be ok, if you have an understanding boss- after all, the flip side is GPs can still look after a sick child, while a nursery couldn’t.

A friend of mine fell out with her parents when she had a similar arrangement and they kept letting her down at the last minute (not for illness, just things cropping up). She put her DC in nursery in the end.

flowery · 01/12/2021 13:14

No more than if any other childcare provision fell through unexpectedly. You can take emergency dependants leave for emergencies like this, which would normally be for a day or two to make alternative arrangements.

MalbecandToast · 02/12/2021 09:14

Well you would use annual leave or unpaid leave to cover it but if that ended up being too frequently then yes it can cause issues. If you both work you should be prepared to use paid childcare IMO.

Original poster
babyfish2 · 02/12/2021 09:22

@MalbecandToast Well there'd be no point in me working if we had to use paid childcare really. I've worked out that I'd be left with about £100 after childcare costs😬

OP posts:
Original poster
babyfish2 · 02/12/2021 09:23

Thanks everyoneSmile

OP posts:
MalbecandToast · 02/12/2021 09:28

When I went back to work after DC3, I was -£300 technically after childcare costs, seems pointless but what it meant is that my pension accrued, I got regularly promoted and now, 5 years on they are all in school, before and after school club is way cheaper and now I'm way better off. Short term pain for long term gain. Nurseries open all year round, most sensible ones will take kids with colds so long as they are not ill so rarely had to take time off work. When I did, DH did half so it wasn't all on me. I really believe paid childcare is essential if you want to work.

MalbecandToast · 02/12/2021 09:28

Not really ill I should have said!

Comefromaway · 02/12/2021 14:19

As long as grandparents are fairly fir and healthy you stand less chance of being disciplined for excessive time off than if your child were in a nursery or with a childminder.

This is because a nursery or childminder will refuse to take your child if they are at all poorly whereas a grandparents will often be prepared to still look after an ill child.

MalbecandToast · 02/12/2021 14:30

@Comefromaway not true at all, nurseries in my experience will take children with colds and coughs etc, the only exception is sickness and diarrhoea and where a child is really "poorly". Have been using nurseries for nearly 10 years and very few times have I not been able to send them in

Comefromaway · 02/12/2021 14:32

I've had the opposite experience

Cam2020 · 02/12/2021 14:38

When I went back to work after DC3, I was -£300 technically after childcare costs, seems pointless but what it meant is that my pension accrued, I got regularly promoted and now, 5 years on they are all in school, before and after school club is way cheaper and now I'm way better off. Short term pain for long term gain. Nurseries open all year round, most sensible ones will take kids with colds so long as they are not ill so rarely had to take time off work. When I did, DH did half so it wasn't all on me. I really believe paid childcare is essential if you want to work.

All of this.

Just to echo that nurseries are full of children with colds and on antibiotics. They only reject children with temperatures or s&d.

Redcart21 · 02/12/2021 14:56

Well it’s not just your cost for nurseries, it’s a household cost so your DH should be paying at least half- so you won’t be left with hardly any money.
Also giving up your job means no pension or NI contributions, less chance of being promoted in the future etc. It’s not just about the here and now. The opportunity costs are huge for not working and it’s a long term game.
Your employer will expect you to find backup childcare after 1 or 2 days, depending on your work contract. If grandparents can’t do it, you need another option.

DrCoconut · 02/12/2021 16:09

I get half a day emergency leave then it goes to unpaid or annual leave if I can't get in.

gogohm · 02/12/2021 16:20

Yes, employers are meant to give you the first day off (annual leave or unpaid) but after that unless they agree to unpaid/annual leave they can discipline for taking unauthorised time off. All parents need a plan b

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