Full time working mums
Show your support
I work 33hrs a week over 4days. We have no allowance for child sickness so can only use annual leave or flexible working (which means making the time back up). I've kept annual leave to use for it as people warned me. However, my husband gets 5 days a year paid for child sickness so he will be picking it up until those run out.
The parental leave I have used 2 of so I only have one period left for that until March. We don't really have a flexible working policy unfortunately so just the contracted hours. Husband only has 1 day left before his annual leave it up in Dec. I do have alot of days left to use but get terrible colleague guilt when I'm using them short notice... when they are already short staffed. It's so hard to work it out because you don't want them to be sick but also have to keep the days if they do!
It’s really tough I work full time and our child is in nursery 5 days a week as family hours and hours away. We are lucky we haven’t had periods of sickness (we don’t seem to be a sicky family 🤞🏻 famous last words!) but when we do we both wfh and then share childcare and calls and get through. I don’t need to use sick leave or annual leave. Have you thought about getting another job? Most employers are understanding of child sickness and offer flexible working so seems a shame yours are not.
Oh your very lucky. We seem to pick up everything going. That's so handy working from home..tbh I've been trying to find a work from home job instead as the one I'm currently in cannot be done at home. We are already contracted to set hours, I could ask for more flexible working but the department is mostly 8.30-5pm anyway. Don't get me wrong they are understanding but I am the one feeling bad about it and guilty for taking time off. I just wondered if part time would maybe be more useful or basically I just have to keep all my leave for unforeseen circumstances unfortunately 😕
Your leave should be for down town and holidays and moments spent with your family not to cover yourself in case your child is sick. I would talk to HR - they have to honour flexible working requests it’s the law - and if they don’t support you then I would look for a new job
I work and I find that shocking you only get that! I only started working there in August and I e been off 11 days in total so far due to child health, fully paid also! My boss told me, as long as I can prove (thermometer, doc, hosp etc) I’ll never be unpaid for being off if it’s for my child!
Companies don't have to provide flexible working - they are legally obliged to consider it and need a reason to refuse, but there is no obligation for them to agree. That also doesnt extend to paid time off for childcare reasons, although flexible working would allow for it to be more easily managed around. I'm fortunate I can wfh and work hours outside of normal working office hours, my boss is very flexible but i still cant get paid time off for it that I don't have to make back up. Many companies do allow this thouhh. I'm public sector/government
It is tough, I’m in the same boat as you. I was saving a few days annual leave plus you are entitled to parental leave as well. If you have a flexible working policy, you could also ask to fit in your hours around your little one when they are sleeping etc to help. I’m lucky my employer is super understanding and flexible working is what they push for everyone.