should colleagues with kids get preference for holidays?

Luella-14_2

NoreenOMS wrote: »

comments like this make me so angry- maybe more so as this has happened to me this week. What exactly do you suggest parents of I'll children do other than take time off work if their child is ill? I am all ears to your suggestions?!

Out of curiosity, when your child is ill how is the time taken off? Do you take annual leave or flexi time/ make the hours up? At my place parents are entitled to 5 days a year (paid) to look after sick children, that an breed some resentment.

Spendless

Luella-14 wrote: »

Out of curiosity, when your child is ill how is the time taken off? Do you take annual leave or flexi time/ make the hours up? At my place parents are entitled to 5 days a year (paid) to look after sick children, that an breed some resentment.

At my last workplace. All employees had what was called 'special leave' usually unpaid but could be paid at the discretion of your line-manager.. During my time there it was used by people who had to wait for the police when they were burgled overnight, car breakdowns on way to work, as well as poorly children. I really liked that set-up.

F_Bear

Quote:
Originally Posted by NoreenOMS
comments like this make me so angry- maybe more so as this has happened to me this week. What exactly do you suggest parents of I'll children do other than take time off work if their child is ill? I am all ears to your suggestions?!

If employers and colleagues were more willing to be flexible I am sure many parents would get a job and be less reliant on benefits.

businesses are strugglying as it is, to be more flexiable might not be possible, and asking colleagues to be more flexiable, not only in choosing leave but covering for days off aswell, is abit unfair.

thats considering people wont take advantage like the 'model topless mother' mentioned earlier. would YOU gave ur day off up if she rang in with child care issues?

At my place parents are entitled to 5 days a year (paid) to look after sick children, that an breed some resentment.

is this is wind up?!

jackomdj

Luella-14 wrote: »

Out of curiosity, when your child is ill how is the time taken off? Do you take annual leave or flexi time/ make the hours up? At my place parents are entitled to 5 days a year (paid) to look after sick children, that an breed some resentment.

We don't get it paid, so I either make up the hours, take it from leave or take it as unpaid. I don't have any family local so can't rely on help if they are ill, luckily mine are fairly healthy last year the eldest had 100% attendance and the youngest had just a few days off from v&d.

Luella-14_2

Spendless wrote: »

At my last workplace. All employees had what was called 'special leave' usually unpaid but could be paid at the discretion of your line-manager.. During my time there it was used by people who had to wait for the police when they were burgled overnight, car breakdowns on way to work, as well as poorly children. I really liked that set-up.

That's pretty much what we have, expect it's generally paid. It's to cover bereavement periods and such things, but there is a line stating care of dependant children too. I didn't know whether it was unusual or not.

ETA- I have two colleagues (both fathers) who disagree with the policy as will always take the time off as flexi/ leave.

GlasweJen

I had to discipline someone for her constant absenteeism due to her child minder being sick, by constant I mean at least once a month. The person threw a fit when HR decided not to pay her for one instance of 4 days (2 weeks) as the person had run out of holiday and already had 5 days paid over her holiday allowance.

So come Christmas time am I expected to ask my other staff to be even more flexible around this person when they've been called in for over time at the last minute at least once a month since the start of the year? Hell no! My full timers will get names in a hat, set day part timers will work the days they always work and if someone doesn't like it they can find a new job.

owen_money

I think that the ones without kids should also pay a bit towards the cost of the holiday for the ones with kids, its only fair

aliasojo

owen_money wrote: »

I think that the ones without kids should also pay a bit towards the cost of the holiday for the ones with kids, its only fair

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lolavix

Those who choose to have kids should not be treated differently. My boss at the mo is pretty good with holidays and doesn't favour those with kids over those without, but we tend to all cover each other anyway.

Was the complete opposite in my previous job though - I didn't have a Christmas off for 4 years as I don't have kids, and I was lucky to get a few days over summer. I have a step son but apparently as he's not mine I wasn't allowed time off in the summer holidays or over Christmas.

bluenoseam

I should add that I've been in a position, multiple times where I've given up holidays during school holidays for colleagues with children, but as I get older I do feel it's taking the mickey that such is an expected stance. I'm not sorry about this, but schools are off for something along the lines of what, 15 weeks of the year, inclusive of 6 during the summer - more than enough time to arrange a holiday rather than forcing someone without children to change theirs.

On Christmas & New Year however my stance does slightly "soften", I personally don't mind working Boxing Day or Christmas Eve, it's usually too busy for the day to drag in and well, I'm usually well organised by that point so don't need to run around like a headless chicken trying to "sort things out". I don't tend to be someone who drinks at Christmas either - but at New Year I do enjoy being able to relax with a few drinks & spend time with my family. Given most companies almost militant English nature of not caring about New Years Day & forcing shops to open that becomes a problem for those of us who live in Scotland, where NYE is as big as Christmas. That's why I will generally offer to work Christmas Eve & Boxing day in return for being allowed at the very least the 1st & 2nd of January off - I find that more than fair.

As for taking time off for sick kids, anyone who moans about that is an *insert one of many censored words here to denote a negative opinion on someone* - that's not the same issue. Being sick can happen to anyone at any time and by it's very nature is NOT something you can schedule, anyone moaning about that is a numbskull of the highest order.