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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am from Europe and yes, we stay home when we're sick.[/quote]

From Europe as well and even worse... we get to stay home sick for three days without a doctor's note at full pay. Only after that do we need to go see a doctor (of course sometimes you go at day one because you are sick-sick or injured but with a head cold or a stomach bug you'd usually stay home for a day or two to get better before either going back to work or going to the doctors). Plus, unlimited sick days - you can be sick for three days with a cold this week and then fall and twist your knee next week and then stay home with a headache the week after that... Doesn't mean you might not get fired if it's extensive but yeah, unlimited (fully paid) sick days with no need to go see a doctor for up to three days.
Heck, I fractured my patella last year (two surgeries, two weeks in hospital, 30 sessions of PT). Six weeks at home at full pay, an additional 14 weeks at home partly (2/3) paid by my health insurance and topped up to my usual net salary by my employer (for up to 78 weeks).

When do I not get a paid sick day? Oh right, when my kids are sick :roll: unless I first take them to a doctor to get a sick note and then go see my doctor for a "child sick" note - with the sick child in tow of course. That's (part of) why we have an AP. I of course also don't get a sick day when my childcare provider is ill. But there are 30 days of vacation I could use for that and there is always my overtime I can spend on watching my kids when they are ill or AP is.

However... there is being sick and there is being "sick".
If your AP has a fever of a 102, please offer a sick day. If your AP is throwing up, please offer a sick day. If you feel your kids are unsafe if being watched by your AP because she is simply too sick to provide a safe environment for them (depending on their ages, her duties and their own health issues), please do offer a sick day. Yes, it's a pain. If she has the sniffles and there are no underlying reasons why she should not be able to watch your child (not an infant, not immunocompromised, AP doesn't have asthma etc.), put her on "light" duty (no household chores, no activities, just tv, audio book, playing board games), maybe try to not have her drive if she's on medication.
Being sick is human, it's not a luxury. The US make it a luxury but it really shouldn't be.[/quote]

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