Time off to look after child?

System

wontfallforit wrote: »

Sounds like a great idea, with lots of red tape

If my child (which I don't actually have...) had something really minor like a cold or a sore throat, I'd definitely use this service.

Anything even marginally most serious though would probably 'force' mums and dads to stay at home, just in case. I'm guessing that only those with the most cutthroat/ruthless careers would feel compelled to go to work rather than stay at home with their sick child.

That would be a good idea, problem for the likes of me would be, you would have to pay at least min wage and if your earning around the min wage it defeats the purpose really, better just staying at home yourself.

Bobl

It depends on your employer, and the relationship you have with them.

There is no legal obligation to allow time off for to look after sick children, and you could say it is unfair on people without children to allow it. I have always allowed 1 day paid if it was an emergency (i.e child woke up sick and there is no time to arrange cover), but I would expect the parent to either arrange cover, or take unpaid leave for any subsequent days.

The problem is if there is a general policy to allow paid time off, 'some' people abuse it.

System

Paid time off??? I've had a bout 6 employers and none have offered paid time off and thus you never get it abused.

rupee99

Bobl wrote: »

It depends on your employer, and the relationship you have with them.

There is no legal obligation to allow time off for to look after sick children, and you could say it is unfair on people without children to allow it. I have always allowed 1 day paid if it was an emergency (i.e child woke up sick and there is no time to arrange cover), but I would expect the parent to either arrange cover, or take unpaid leave for any subsequent days.

The problem is if there is a general policy to allow paid time off, 'some' people abuse it.

From the DirectGov website

"In many cases you have the right to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who depends on you (sometimes called compassionate leave). You can’t be penalised by your employer for taking the time off, providing your reasons for taking it are genuine."

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10026555

Bobl

"n many cases you have the right to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who depends on you"

Define Emergency - routine cold/upset tummy - or severe injury though accident etc!

It is a parent's responsibility to have a fall back plan to deal with routine illness - it is not fair to penalise the business. Even taking unpaid time off can inconvenience a business depending on the size of the business, deadlines etc.

rupee99

Bobl wrote: »

"n many cases you have the right to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who depends on you"

Define Emergency - routine cold/upset tummy - or severe injury though accident etc!

It is a parent's responsibility to have a fall back plan to deal with routine illness - it is not fair to penalise the business. Even taking unpaid time off can inconvenience a business depending on the size of the business, deadlines etc.

It is not what is an emergency or what is not, it is that there is a legal right to time off, something that you apparently were not aware.

Bobl wrote: »

..................
There is no legal obligation to allow time off for to look after sick children,.................

SandC

To me an emergency is a sick child but back up plan to come into action if they look like being ill more than one day.

All the employers I have had have been happy for the employee to take a day's holiday in these circumstances and similar circumstances such as parents suffering from ill health.

So long as people with kids do not get days off willy nilly at full pay without using their holiday entitlement those of us without kids do not mind covering when something like this happens.

mikey72

Bobl wrote: »

"n many cases you have the right to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who depends on you"

Define Emergency - routine cold/upset tummy - or severe injury though accident etc!

It is a parent's responsibility to have a fall back plan to deal with routine illness - it is not fair to penalise the business. Even taking unpaid time off can inconvenience a business depending on the size of the business, deadlines etc.

"Emergencies are defined as sickness, accident, criminal injury, death, funerals absence of the carer or serious problems at a child’s school"

mikey72

nirelandguy wrote: »

I phoned up and said I wouldn't be in, no one asked anything.

Are you sure they won't have just put you down for a days holiday, that's what I last company I was at would have done, rather than unpaid leave if I didn't specifically state that.

System

mikey72 wrote: »

Are you sure they won't have just put you down for a days holiday, that's what I last company I was at would have done, rather than unpaid leave if I didn't specifically state that.

No as all holidays are set, we can't chose our holidays, factory closed down on certain set dates.