Is this a normal level of support or am I expecting too much.

[junnney]

DC (teen) has been admitted to hospital a few days ago. quite ill and may need transfer to a different hospital elsewhere. Treatment may last months. Currently we are on a general paeds ward and I have been asked to be there all day to support care etc. I don't sleep there as I have other DC who need me at home.

I explained the situation to work, also that I am not coping very well with the stress. I am a total wreck. Nobody set, oh sorry, how can we help you, do you need anything. Management has merely approved 10 days working out of the hospital ward (my role can be done remotely and doesn't involved phone calls or customer contact. It's a back office role). It's all really stressful. I have no idea how to return to the office after the 10 days are up if DC hasn't been transferred to a specialist hospital where my presence won't be needed. I have been there for a decade. next to no sick leave and a text book employee in many ways. I just don't know how to handle it all. Any idea. Should I approach management again (even though they seem completely disinterested). My direct line manager has not responded to any of the emails I sent. I got the OK for wfh from someone higher up... No sure what to do esp as it looks like I won't be able to return to the office for a little while longer.

Unfortunately you may not have many options. First step is to check your contract, and find out what you're actually entitled to.

• You should be due compassionate leave, but (if paid) this is usually just for a few days and anything longer would be unpaid.

• If you're suffering from stress, you could get your GP to sign you off. You'll be entitled to whatever your remaining sick pay allowance is (if any) then SSP.

• Your employer should allow you to use any remaining annual leave. Remember though (assuming your annual leave runs from Jan-Dec) if you use your entire annual leave allowance in one go, then end up leaving the company before year's end, you will end up owing them money which will be deducted from your final wages/recovered.

• You may be entitled to some parental leave, this may or may not be paid.

Ultimately no employer is obligated to give you an indefinite amount of paid time off. From what you've said, your employer hasn't even had the basic compassion/decency to ask how you are (despite you working for them for a decade), so for practical purposes I would anticipate them not offering you anything you're not contractually entitled to.

Still, I would contact the person who authorized your leave and discuss your options directly with them. Personally I would want a discussion around why your manager has ghosted you too, but that might not be the battle to fight while you have other things going on.

I hope everything turns out ok x