Childcare issues / time off

[Notgood101]

My mum and dad usually have my little boy while I work . There’s been no issues thus far in 2 years ( I am a single parent ). However both my mum and dad are Ill with probable Covid , my dad worse than mum . I have work tomorrow and my mum is saying she is really too Ill to have my little one.

Can I have time off for this ? I work for the government . My mum says she is starting to feel better but still not good . Can’t discuss with manager tomorrow as they are on A/L annoyingly . I don’t have other childcare unfortunately . My little boy is Ill too but this would not normally be an issue as mum / dad have him.

I work for the local authority and we are allowed up to one week of parental leave each year for such situations.

If you can't get any cover then yes you should be entitled to emergency dependants leave. It will depend on your contract as to if this is paid or unpaid. You will be expected to try and find some alternative childcare. Or ask if you can take annual leave?

If you've been with your employer for a year you can take 4 weeks per year unpaid per child.
Your contract may allow for paid which would override this, but that's the minimum.

www.gov.uk/parental-leave

You have to give 21 days' notice to take parental leave.

As you work in public sector you are probably entitled to paid carers leave.
However it depends on your organisation whether it's for emergency only to allow you to make other arrangements.
Id just ring in the morning and tell them your childcare has fallen through as your mum and dad are ill and you'll need to take the time off to look after your DC. You can speak to your manager about the type of leave when she's back.

I work in NHS and it's usually to cover the first day or 2 and you're expected to have arranged alternative help by then.
Hopefully your mum will be bit better by Wednesday.

Just say you’re sick

You need to give notice for parental leave and it has to be taken in blocks.

If your little boy is unwell you'll be able to take the day off OP, just be prepared that it might not be paid.

We get a day to sort childcare and take any additional days as holiday.

You are extremely fortunate (and so are your employers!) that this is the first time in 2 years you’ve had to have time off to look after your child! If they were with a nursery/childminder you’d have had to keep them home every time they were sick and if you don’t have local family there may not be anyone to have them other than you. I went back to work in earl 2020 and every time she developed a cough or temperature I had to have time off until we got a Covid result (for a while this was about once or twice a month…!)

Anyway, what I’m saying is this is entirely normal for most working parents and your employer will have a policy for it. It might well be unpaid unfortunately but they can’t really stop you taking the time as there’s no other option, especially if he is sick too. Can you work from home at all? My husband can so he covers most of our daughters sickness as he can still get stuff done (I’m a teacher so basically useless from home.)

Yes you can just call work in the morning (line managers managers if needs be) I think it's 5 days paid special leave which can be used for childcare (caring for child unable to attend childcare setting) just explain he's ill and your parents are ill. After that it's usually unpaid or you can use A/L

I work public sector and for me, it would be unpaid leave.

Depending on your financial set/up, if unpaid is not something you could do and if you don't have annual leave to cover it, your only option may be to call in sick yourself.

I have to do this all the time! We have zero friends or family to help, nobody except us or our paid childcare have ever watched our son. If he’s ill, I’m off, if his daycare lady is ill, I’m off. It’s just how it is unless it becomes chronic they can’t sack you.
most mums have to stay home when a child is ill as nurseries and minders have exclusion rules. In my opinion you and your boss are really lucky this is the first event.
itll be fine.

Yes, lie about it. That way if you are caught out, you can face disciplinary action, and never be trusted again. As a local government manager, most of us are able to be flexible with arrangements. Lie to us and you'll be the first one out of the door.

they can’t sack you.

Which bit of the law is that?

Likely that if you’re in a gov job there’s a policy for emergency carers leave, usually entitled to something like 3 days a year. But you are only expected to take the first day of the emergency as emergency carers leave and then either arrange childcare or use AL if the emergency situation continues.