ANOTHER ABSENCE

[bumblebubble23]

I've recently gone full time at work, I'm working in a school nursery. So will this look extremely bad for my absence record, I'm not normally bad for work attendance at All but had a few absences close together. Three weeks ago a number of children in our class had a diarrhoea and sickness bug, my class teacher was absent with this, then I caught it had a Friday off work. Was going to go in on the Monday then my young daughter caught it off me so I stayed off with her for just the Monday. The following week, i drop my children at MIL in the morning for childcare, as I get there there's an ambulance taking FIL to hospital heart attack. I end up taking that day off unpaid as my DP had a phone call while I was on the school run that FIL is extremely ill (going into heart failure) wanted me to come hospital with him. Now, this week I have maybe flu/covid what I thought now I'm thinking it's a chest infection. I've completely lost my voice,coughing up green mucous in the night, I sound terrible. I have temp 38.7, up all night it's just got worse all week. I feel like I need antibiotics I just feel poorly basically. Really struggling. Am I completely insane to stay off ? As I have had a few absences close together? I think I will struggle to get my own DC ready for school this morning I'm currently sat up in bed ( can't lie down as my chest struggles) dosed up on flu tablets starting to feel a bit shivery now. I'll just mention the day with my daughter was unpaid as well.

Bump

Don't go in.
Don't spread your bugs.

Sorry - but are you washing your hands properly and not touching your face etc?

There are so many bugs going around - I wash my hands and then also use hand sanitiser, before preparing certain food and eating - just in case I've got something on my hands.

Well the emergency Leave day won't be classed as sick leave. So far you have had a stomach bug and a chest infection. It's bad luck but can't be helped . A third one may trigger a meeting but wont go any further.

Can your dh take time when kids are ill? Is there any flexibility in his role?

No unfortunately it's always me when they're ill. Yes I wash my hands constantly but we have children as young as 2 in our school nursery, and one day last week I got coughed at right in my face I actually felt the droplets land near my mouth! I'm going to ring at 7 now and give work the heads up, I always feel guilty when I'm off as they struggle to cover but it really can't be helped can it?

Sometimes these things happen. The situation with FIL should come under parental leave. Just call in sick.

It’s totally normal to start getting all the children’s illnesses when you first start in a childcare setting. I’ve worked in 3 different childcare settings and seen it loads with new starters. Your body will
get used to it and you won’t get sick once acclimatised.

I don’t catch anything now, even when it’s cold and flu season. I do however take precautions washing hands often and have hand gel with me at all times. Talk to your SLT about it if you’re worried, you may hit a trigger point but they should be ok about it if you explain the details of each absence.

If you’ve just started there they shouldn’t be surprised. It takes a bit of time to build up immunity to a work place like a nursery. Our new staff seem to catch everything in the first few months while staff that have been there ages get far less illness.

You can't help being unwell and needing the time off for family reasons is entirely acceptable. You may have to attend a return to work interview when you're better. I work for the NHS and they are pretty strict about several episodes of absence in a short time, but I wouldn't be overly concerned about any kind of disciplinary procedure. You might be put on a sickness management plan. Get well soon.

If the kids are ill again DH needs to be off, otherwise it's impacting your carer and not his x

Not only call in sick but stay off until you are fully recovered. Better one week of illness than lots of shorter periods.
When DS was very little it was always me off when he was poorly, he only wanted Mummy and I didn’t want to leave him. Once he was older we were able to share the leave but DH can WFH so easier.
If your DH has a well paid career I can see why you take the leave- not a feminist view I know!

Particularly while you’re settling into a new job, your DH needs to do his fair share of kids sick days.

No you shouldn't go into work like this. Not fair on anybody. Can you keep small children safe when feeding so poorly, no. Are you newish to the role? I have taught a nursery class for 15 yrs and whilst I caught lots of bugs the first few years, after that my immune system got pretty tough. Very rarely catch anything from the children these days, maybe one mild cold each winter.
At our school there would be an informal chat, probably part of a regular supervision meeting. The purpose would genuinely be to make sure the member of staff was okay and there wasn't any underlying health or personal issues. Our sickness absence policy is quite understanding so what you describe wouldn't trigger any formal procedure. Can you find your policy?

I would say it's par for the course for anyone starting at a nursery, whether a child or staff, to catch everything going for a while. I'd expect the nursery is used to this with new staff.

I would go and see your GP today though if you suspect a chest infection, your DH needs to take days off as well when your children are poorly it's not fair that your taking all the time off.

Working with children tends to be a germ filled job, as the majority of those working in the nursery, child minder, school setting will tell you!! I work in a First school (Reception - Year 4) and I always say 'we need hazmat suits'!!! Younger children tend to be worse for germs. Hand washing/sanitiser is constant! You can't help being unwell. I feel bad if I am unwell and have to call in sick. Your employer must know you've been unwell all week, so it's not like you're skiving off!! I'm currently trying to stop a migraine from appearing, as I need to get through today and tomorrow!

I have worked at the school for 18 months, but in a year 6 class part time. Now, I am full time in nursery ages 2-4 so big change. Must be my immune system as I'm use to working with older children.

When my DD started nursery I expected her to catch loads of illnesses but was surprised by just how many of them I caught from her. I'd assumed that the nearly 40 years I’d spent building up my immune system would help but it didn’t much. I still caught at least 50% of the lurgies. You can’t protect yourself from germs when dealing with small grotty children.