SO my work just came out with an amended attendance policy. Which is fine. Everyone started in on how they have kids and alot of their "calling in sick" is because of them. so just because I have a kid means I should have special sick time just for them? no.
Main point... they send out a list of hospitals that you can drop your sick kid off at, for a mere $40-$132 (depending on how long you need them there). First, they take mildly sick kids... calling one of the places - I found out they consider chicken pox and pink eye mildly sick. Thanks but no, I'm not going to take my baby in with a cold and come out with chicken pox. I'll just use a sick day.
Second, What would you do? Would you drop your baby, kid, child, off at a hospital daycare with strangers just so you can avoid a write up? my job is important but not at the sake of my childs health.
Re: work/sick time/sick kids
Heck no I wouldn't use that. Chicken pox is not 'mild' in my book!!!
My company gives us flat paid time off. It's used for vacation, sick time, sick time for kids....whatever you chose you can use it for. That way everyone gets the same amount off total and can allocate it however they want.
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
No, I wouldn't take them there. We get 5 sick days a year, and we're allowed to use it for taking care of a family member. I do that or just take the day unpaid, which I can do as an hourly employee.
What happens if you get written up? I get "talked to" if I use more than x number of sick days in a year (I think it's more than 5). I've been "talked to" several times. However, my work policy I can use days as long as I have them. I haven't run out yet, so all they can do it talk to me.
Do you have anyone else who can watch your kid? DHs schedule is flexible and my mom and/or dad have helped out. When DS had RSV, I only had to miss 2 days of work even though he was out of daycare for nearly 2 weeks.
my mom watches DD. I've only called in once to stay with DD and that's cuz my mom assumed I had the day off and planned all sorts of things to do. We can use our sick time for us or kids, but even if we have time to cover our sick day, it counts as an occurance and after 4 occurances, we get documented counseling, 6 is written warning, 8is final warning or termnation, 9th is automatic term. but even on THAT note... if you are gone for a week (5 days) it's one occurance but 5 days out. after 10 days you can get terminated too. it doesn't make sense in that respect.
i guess in simple terms its 9 occurences or 10 days out- which ever come first?
No, I wouldn't take my sick child to a strange place to be watched by strangers. Someone posted a while back about having out of town daycare options when traveling for work, that would be weird for me, too. I don't plan to leave DS with strangers ever. Babysitters, yes.
I'm sorry this policy sucks. Are there other parents in the group with young children?
everyone with kids has already said they aren't taking their kids to a strange hospital. My sis works with me and went to HR about their suggestion. Not only that they recommend taking our kids to a stranger but the fact that with this economy it's better to take a sick day and get paid for the day, than to come in, get paid then have to turn over anywhere from $40 to $132 to the place that you took your kid to-- PENDING you have that extra money laying around... which sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.
I'm just going to take my sick days as they are given to me and if they want to fire me for calling in too much, then I guess I wasn't meant to work for this lame company that isn't family friendly.