Poor Support

[PigsinBlankets22]

I work within a large healthcare provider....since being qualified I have worked in two different 'places' and have found in my role there just seems minimal flexibility for having a young family; I can't get set days; if I have to take time off because of my children's sickness/childcare, I am challenged why I can't arrange other childcare; god forbid if you're off sick. I have enquired to various other areas within this large healthcare provider but in my role, set days appear to be as rare as hens teeth. I am seriously considering jacking in my profession because despite care and compassion being the pillar of our profession, management display minimal to their staff. I have been so stressed trying to juggle lack of childcare options, a young family and battling with work for flexibility. Is this the same everywhere!?

My understanding is that the tech industry tends to have more flexibility. I work in higher education and there’s very little unless you are high up and even then there’s a culture of presenteeism.

Set days - yes there's plenty of employers with set days. But equally, your childcare isn't the concern of many employers. Even the most flexible employers are unlikely to support a lot of sickness - either hours or the children's. I'm in public sector, quite flexible... but we do monitor sickness absence, and there's only leave to arrange care for children (or annual leave / unpaid leave to do it yourself). And we start sickness absence processes after 3 occasions or 9 days in a year. You aren't going to find many employers more generous than that.