My rights around Christmas Day working

Comms69

Andy_L wrote: »

"As an employee you’re allowed time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependant...You’re allowed a reasonable amount of time off to deal with the emergency, but there’s no set amount of time as it depends on the situation. - Yes and this could be as little as 15 minutes to get a babysitter.

Example

If your child falls ill you could take time off to go to the doctor and make care arrangements. Your employer may then ask you to take annual leave or parental leave if you want to look after your child for longer."

https://www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants

That is different to taking a day or two off to look after a child

getmore4less

JReacher1 wrote: »

It will depend on the sick policy of the company. If the company policy lets you self certify for a short term sickness absence they can’t then enforce a different sickness policy just because it is Christmas Day.

Nothing to do with sickness policies.

It would not be a self certification.

motorguy

Potbellypig wrote: »

It's just a job. An excuse is as good as a reason.

Its "just a job" until you no longer have it. Then you realise it was your income you've just lost....

Which is what your advice to the O/P (a single parent) could result in.

Would that be your response if they came back in the new year saying they'd lost their job because they did what you suggested - "its just a job"?

Idiot.

motorguy

Potbellypig wrote: »

If one is an idiot because they feel taking care of a sick child comes before a job, then I'm guilty. I certainly am.

You mean the child with the imaginary illness, made up to shirk work commitments?

charlieismydarling

Every care worker I know has a colleague like the op. Can’t do this, won’t do that and rolls out the single parent card.
I’m a single parent too and had to farm my ds out to neighbours one year. It comes with the job.
It’s not just patients that suffer when people pull stunts like some are suggesting, it’s your colleagues too. The ones who actually turn up and work and then can’t leave because someone is sick or not sick...

Or just wants their own way.

robatwork

Comms69 wrote: »

Frankly you're an idiot (and yes feel free to report that).

Not very Toaist of you.

Correct, but you need to get back your yang.

Comms69

robatwork wrote: »

Not very Toaist of you.

Correct, but you need to get back your yang.

I fluctuate between the two.

dawyldthing

Potbellypig wrote: »

Seems a fair enough request. If they can't accommodate your request to work the morning shift, I'd just call them on Christmas Day and say your child is poorly and you can't come in. Problem solved.

That doesn’t work. They might have it in their contract like we do that you have to get a doctors note if your off over the fortnight of Xmas and new year. Mainly to act as a deterrent as someone has to do it.

Try and reason with your collegues. Do you have anyone you’ve done favours before that could owe you one back? It’s how we’ve done it over the years and it works. I’ve pulled in for all sorts but on the odd occasion I’ve needed it folk have helped as it’s a two way street

GlasweJen

I'd have my balls roasted if I tried to pull a stunt like that on Christmas Day, I'd be expected to produce a private sick line and get a refund through the bursars office if I was sick. For a child my boss would want to know why the child's other parent couldn't be called on, no family at all. Fine, evidence of the illness i.e doctors note).

elsien

charlieismydarling wrote: »

Every care worker I know has a colleague like the op. Can’t do this, won’t do that and rolls out the single parent card.
I’m a single parent too and had to farm my ds out to neighbours one year. It comes with the job.
It’s not just patients that suffer when people pull stunts like some are suggesting, it’s your colleagues too. The ones who actually turn up and work and then can’t leave because someone is sick or not sick...

Or just wants their own way.

My particular favourite was the colleague who couldn't work Christmas day at all because she had to be with her daughter. The daughter was a 23 year old non-disabled adult. When I told her that it was tough because it was her turn to work the day after wangling the previous two Christmases off, she resigned.