Anonymous wrote:I added it up. Including a few doctors appointments that could not be scheduled at other times, I've missed 9 days combined from July through January including 4 days for the Flu for both of my kids.
It was 1 day July (kid), 1 day september (me), 4 hours combined appointments october + 4 days flu, December - 1/2 day kid, January 1 day me, 1 day kid.
That is not a lot at all! I would say that’s pretty average or even less than average for parents of multiple young kids.
9 days in six months is not a lot? If the next six months are similar it will be 18 days/year!
It is not a lot, no. People with young kids have to take a lot of sick time.
As a employer, I hire you to do a job and I count on you being available during business hours to do that job. Your lack of childcare whatever the reason, should not be my problem. Surely, OP must have known that children get colds and the flu, run a fever, etc., and should have found emergency childcare.
It
Well, parents also get sick. I’ve got rock solid, multi tiered plans for childcare even with sick kids. But this winter has hit ME (a 30something mom) extremely hard. I’ve never been this sick in my entire life and have had to take a day off nearly every week since October. The illnesses now aren’t just the sniffles-they are taking our family DOWN.
This is still not your employer's problem. You should have taken a week off to get well instead of a day every week since Oct. At this point, I would have had a long talk with you about all your sick leave and any more would be without pay and a doctor's note on your reason for taking so much time
I am running a business NOT a kindergarten.
I'm sure you are the type of boss who would go to work sick, infect all your employees and then yell at them for taking time off.0
No. I would and do not go to work sick and I encourage sick employees to take sick leave. But 9 days in 6 months for children bring sick is ridiculous.
Anyone who has children should know that the first ten years there will be a lot of colds, flu, normal childhood dresses and it should tell you that you need emergency childcare options.
This sounds like it’s written by someone with a SAH spouse, nanny willing to work through illness, and/or lots of local family help. You don’t sound like any working parent of small children I know, not to mention many of us burned up SO much of our sick leave quarantining healthy kids for close contact exposures the past couple years that we’re now treading water.
Sick leave in this country is absolutely insufficient for a parent to take care of a sick kid or two, take the kids to their doctors appointments, and have anything leftover for your own illness and doctors appointments. Just this year my family has had the flu and a stomach virus. And it’s only 6 weeks in!
Also to a PP, I would not be apoplectic if my kids’ teacher missed 9 days in 6 months. That is 1.5 days per month. That seems reasonable for a few days with sick kids of their own, a cold or two, and a couple doctors appointments. In fact, I’m shocked teachers aren’t sick more often considering they’re working around kids! But this is America where we value “productivity” and the almighty “dollar” more than giving people time to sufficiently care for their family’s health.
Anonymous wrote:Do you belong to a church? You might be able to find someone older who could be available on short notice. If you don't have a church affiliation, I would still call churches close to you, tell them your situation and ask if they know of anyone who might be willing to help you.
Good luck.
Older people are less likely to want to catch kids’ illnesses…
Rights?! My parents don’t even want to come spend time with their own grandchildren when the grandkids are sick. But sure, some sweet little old lady will come care for OP’s barfing, feverish kids.
As a working parent, I can plan around school breaks, early release, etc. with camps. But there really isn’t sick day backup care.
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