Did your employer understand?

[MUM2BLESS]

Hi I am a mum of four children and also a childminder.

I was having some time by myself this morning when I got a call from school stating that my son had been coughing and was destressed. They wanted me to collect him. I did just that.

Have you had problems with your employer when you have needed to collected your child for whatever reason? Do employers really support parents who have children school age. I just wanted to hear from you about what you have experienced when you got a call from the school.

Thanks for your assistance.

Generally, my employer is accommodating and if I don't want to take annual leave, I can take unpaid leave.

In that situation I would call my MIL to be honest, it is v difficult to keep an employer happy if childcare needs arise frequently, although I have had supportive employer for more serious issues. If I used a CM I might consider asking the CM to pick the child up actually unless the case was that the child was ill.

This sort of situation is why I think we will need an au pair when the kids are at school and not at nursery.

I've been lucky in that my DCs are rarely ill (they have inherited my steely constitution! ) so the issue doesn't come up ofte. Also my DH will do the picking up a fair proportion of the time (he owns his own business so doesn't have a bss t answer to. Consequently hasn't become an issue and employers have not been to bad about it.

However, if it happened more frequently I am sure it would be an issue and i think most employers would expect you to sort out some backup plan so you don't have to simply drop everything and run if the school calls.

Difficult to do in practice, though, glad I've got away without having to address this problem so far.

Thanks everyone.

my employer would be very supportive and would understand if I had to drop everything and go to a sick child

You are lucky lal. I know quite a few people who have employers who are not quite so understanding.

I have only needed to leave work once in fourteen years when DS suffered a head injury - absolutely no query, coat on & out of the door.

Having said that I would keep an ill child home, I'm not one of the give them calpol, push them through the door to school & not respond to your mobile promptly when school / nursery calls, as undoubtedly they will.