Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Work/sick/

110 replies

Carol52 · 17/12/2023 20:30

Hi advice please
I work Monday Tuesday Wednesday
My daughter was sick a week last Tuesday. I had 2 days off work.
My Dd went back to school on the Friday.
She was sick again on the Sunday and was really poorly again so I was not at work last week.
Now I have the bug but I just don't know what work will say I work at a school and only started there in September.
I am worried but what can I do . Any advice or should I not be worried .

OP posts:
Carol52 · 21/12/2023 23:23

Hi thank you for your message. I do not have anyone to look after my children. I was ill with sickness.

OP posts:
Carol52 · 21/12/2023 23:24

Thank you. It is a worry but what can you do . I do not have anyone

OP posts:
Carol52 · 06/01/2024 14:30

Hi I am back to work on Monday really worried as I did not go back before Christmas after having time off again with sickness.
I have had 2 separate dependant days and 2 days prior due to me having polyps removed and not feeling well.
Not sure what they are going to say

OP posts:
cutlery · 06/01/2024 14:32

They'll probably have a meeting with you and ask you to explain your absence and ask if it's likely to happen again. Given you are in your probation period I would imagine they'd give you one final shot to prove yourself then if you miss a single day you'll be out. That's the best case scenario.

BattyOwl · 06/01/2024 14:43

I'd expect to be managed out tbh

Quitelikeit · 06/01/2024 14:48

Op

consider when your child is ill giving them paracetamol as it can perk them up in no time

you should also Medicate yourself and try to get into work - it’s not like you work long hours!

stomachameleon · 06/01/2024 14:57

@Flyhigher I agree with that tbh. Every school I have worked out has sickness issues and people being unwell.
Some of the responses on here are alien to me.

Neriah · 06/01/2024 15:22

Babyroobs · 17/12/2023 22:46

I don't see why it would matter.as presumably the time you had off with your daughter would have bene unpaid?

Of course it matters. Whether paid or not she was not working.

Neriah · 06/01/2024 15:28

At the very least I'd expect a warning about absence given the amount of time off and the very short period of employment. Honestly though, most places I know would be giving serious consideration to dismissal.

If they keep you on, you need to improve your record massively and find alternatives to being off. You can't help it doesn't cut much ice with most employers.

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 06/01/2024 15:34

You let them know you were absent on the 18th? I presume they know you were taking the rest of your working week off and you didn’t just not show?

You will have a return to work meeting.. this will be to ask why you were off and can it be prevented? So is it due to workload etc?
They may ask if it’s pregnancy related so they can put adjustments in place.

That is literally it, a formality to ensure it’s not work related and crack on. It may just happen as and when the head is free. Don’t worry about it.

Aprilx · 06/01/2024 15:40

Carol52 · 06/01/2024 14:30

Hi I am back to work on Monday really worried as I did not go back before Christmas after having time off again with sickness.
I have had 2 separate dependant days and 2 days prior due to me having polyps removed and not feeling well.
Not sure what they are going to say

I am not sure if I am interpreting your posts correctly, you mention four days off here but from your first post it sounds like you haven't been in since early December?

I think that you should expect a warning at the very least. Also if I were your employer I would be pointing out that "dependent's leave" is not intended to be used for caring for a sick child. It is intended to deal with an emergency situation, such as taking the child to the doctor's or hospital or driving to grandparents or somebody that can provide the necessary care.

Topee · 06/01/2024 15:47

Is your child’s father around? If so, I would be expecting him to take his turn in looking after your daughter when unwell too.

You have a very poor attendance record given the short amount of time you’ve been there. Different employers would handle this different ways so no definitive answer as to what will happen. I would be offering to make up some of the time though.

chopc · 06/01/2024 15:48

@Carol52 when you go back to work, hopefully you would be able to tell your employers how your daughter's sickness will no longer affect your work (unless it's a serious illness). You will also be able to tell them that you have addressed any medical issues for yourself and are taking supplements etc to boost your immunity, to reduce the chance of ongoing illness.

Do you have flexible working, or are able to work from home at all? You can maybe explore these ideas with your employer. Being a lone parent with no family and no input from the father IS hard. But these days, workplaces are supposed to be less rigid as well.

Carol52 · 06/01/2024 15:49

Hi it has been holidays work has been closed for 2 weeks

OP posts:
Carol52 · 06/01/2024 15:51

Hi no flexible working have to be at work no other family at all.
this is my first job in over 15 years as I was a full time carer. I just don’t know if I can go it and look after my children. If they are ill I have to be there

OP posts:
Carol52 · 06/01/2024 15:54

Hi thanks for your message I am up at 5.45am I get home normally around 4.30
thats pretty long days

OP posts:
Carol52 · 06/01/2024 15:57

Can I just say I have had alot of replies but what do you do if your 12 year old is ill. No relatives nothing. What parent would leave there child . Warning at work or not you can’t leave a child bring ill

OP posts:
stomachameleon · 06/01/2024 15:59

@Carol52 what time do you have to be in school?
Tbh you have been ill and you are a single parent. People work in schools generally as it is flexible with children. Don't envisage the worst. You may get a warning. Where I work they would just be happy to see you back.
What can you do about it? Don't give up work. Most people just have to manage.

stomachameleon · 06/01/2024 16:01

Tbh at 12 I would have tucked them up and gone to work sorry. I would have rung regularly to check up and popped home if I could.

Quitelikeit · 06/01/2024 16:01

A 12 year old is old enough to look after themselves

The school has given you a chance and you need to take that chance because you might not get another with being unemployed for 15 years

Topee · 06/01/2024 16:06

At 12 I would leave them and check in on them regularly. I presumed you meant primary aged.

Aprilx · 06/01/2024 16:10

You have been taking all this time off to look after a 12 year old? I had assumed a toddler. 😳

MsCactus · 06/01/2024 16:11

At 12 I think they can look after themselves if unwell

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 06/01/2024 16:12

A bit harsh saying you’d leave a 12 year old, you don’t know the child. I have a 17 year old who can’t be left alone if poorly, but my eldest at 12 could have been. All children are different.

murasaki · 06/01/2024 16:14

Awaits incoming SEN post. But usually a 12 year old would be fine, you leave sandwich stuff available and check in via text with a call at lunchtime.