please help, children and sickness and work

[lisad123wantsherquoteinDM]

Called into manager this morning and she has said that the time i have been off is not good enough and way above normal. I was off 2 days last week as DD2 was in hopsital, and previous to that we had an appointment for DH cancer appointment and DD1's CDC appointment. If I have to leave to go to hospital appointments I always stay late or make up hours but none of this is in writing. I work part-time and no one can cover my work when im out.

Now my boss has said if possibke i need to make up any further days off or find someone to watch the kids when they are sick.

I just dont know what to do. They have just made me permenant but I understand where they are coming from.

We are hoping I might be able to give up work in future but cant really afford to right now.
Do I leave and try and find a evening job so DH can look after children in evening, or just keep going?? Im so tired and stressed and now everytime Im off Im going to be in panic
I just wish I could curl up, sleep and be alone for a few days

Lisad, didn't want your post to go unanswered. Sorry to hear you're going through this. You should have the right to parental leave, please check out this link:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Parentalleaveandfle xibleworking/DG_10029416

Personally, from what you say, I think it sounds as if your employer is in the wrong. You have made up the hours after all. Perhaps you could suggest filling out a spreadsheet of the hours you take off and the hours you make up, with dates etc. (That's what I used to do.) Good luck!

thanks

Unfortunately, parental leave is not much use in cases like this as it has to be applied for in advance and taken in blocks of no less than a week. It is of no use if you wake up one morning to find you have a sick child and no-one to look after her or if you just need a half-day for a hospital appointment. For the hospital appointments, were you not taking annual leave? Is your boss aware that you are making the time up at other times?

Check with company HR as many companies offer certain amount of time off for children of certain age (I think that this may be even a legal requirement). make sure that they know you are catching up the hours by keeping a record.