Off work due to school closed
Discussion
I am a AHP in the NHS, working part time (Mon-Wed). I was off work last week as my daughter's school was closed all week - plus to be honest I am not sure I would have physically made it in to work, certainly not on Wed. Got a message yesterday to say schools would be open again this week, thankfully. Woke up this morning to even more snow, and it is still snowing heavily. Got a message as I was attempting to clear the car and drive again to say school will be closed until further notice.
My concern is how things will stand from my works point of view. My OH would share the responsibility of childcare except that he has just started a new job (last company went into administration) and is not allowed to take any leave during his probabtion period.
I have only worked for my employer 1 year (tomorrow, exactly!), so I am a liitle concern about how they may feel about me being off again. I have got no more annual leave left to take, thanks to today and last week. Will I now be on unpaid leave, or will I have to start borrowing leave from next year? Would I also be able to make the time up by working on a Thurs/Fri is this was convinient with my boss?
Any advice would be gratefully received. I would ring work to ask them, but nobody is answering the phones at the moment - perhaps none of the managers can get in!!
My concern is how things will stand from my works point of view. My OH would share the responsibility of childcare except that he has just started a new job (last company went into administration) and is not allowed to take any leave during his probabtion period.
I have only worked for my employer 1 year (tomorrow, exactly!), so I am a liitle concern about how they may feel about me being off again. I have got no more annual leave left to take, thanks to today and last week. Will I now be on unpaid leave, or will I have to start borrowing leave from next year? Would I also be able to make the time up by working on a Thurs/Fri is this was convinient with my boss?
Any advice would be gratefully received. I would ring work to ask them, but nobody is answering the phones at the moment - perhaps none of the managers can get in!!
AMLK said:
I am a AHP in the NHS, working part time (Mon-Wed). I was off work last week as my daughter's school was closed all week - plus to be honest I am not sure I would have physically made it in to work, certainly not on Wed. Got a message yesterday to say schools would be open again this week, thankfully. Woke up this morning to even more snow, and it is still snowing heavily. Got a message as I was attempting to clear the car and drive again to say school will be closed until further notice.
My concern is how things will stand from my works point of view. My OH would share the responsibility of childcare except that he has just started a new job (last company went into administration) and is not allowed to take any leave during his probabtion period.
I have only worked for my employer 1 year (tomorrow, exactly!), so I am a liitle concern about how they may feel about me being off again. I have got no more annual leave left to take, thanks to today and last week. Will I now be on unpaid leave, or will I have to start borrowing leave from next year? Would I also be able to make the time up by working on a Thurs/Fri is this was convinient with my boss?
Any advice would be gratefully received. I would ring work to ask them, but nobody is answering the phones at the moment - perhaps none of the managers can get in!!
Could you take your daughter in to work with you?My concern is how things will stand from my works point of view. My OH would share the responsibility of childcare except that he has just started a new job (last company went into administration) and is not allowed to take any leave during his probabtion period.
I have only worked for my employer 1 year (tomorrow, exactly!), so I am a liitle concern about how they may feel about me being off again. I have got no more annual leave left to take, thanks to today and last week. Will I now be on unpaid leave, or will I have to start borrowing leave from next year? Would I also be able to make the time up by working on a Thurs/Fri is this was convinient with my boss?
Any advice would be gratefully received. I would ring work to ask them, but nobody is answering the phones at the moment - perhaps none of the managers can get in!!
I think if you spoke to your manager and explained the fix that you're in, suggesting you take your daughter in with you seems a valid question. I would imagine he/she would then see that you're not taking the mick, but making a genuine attempt to be at work.
Thanks for the suggestion but it would be a resounding no I am afraid. Firstly my daughter is 6yrs - so would need entertaining and would also be a bit to inquisative about my work. Secondly the area I work in is restricted access to the public due to its nature - only the patient and staff are allowed. My daughter probably would love it as she is constantly asking about what I do and could she come and see!!
To be honest, last week - unexpected, so within the boundaries of reason (in my opinion) however with this whole winter expecting to be cold, you should have put an emergency childcare plan in place (which you should now be using today!).
This thread - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... will give you an insight into the issue from employers' perspectives.
This thread - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... will give you an insight into the issue from employers' perspectives.
We do use childcare, but it is run by the council and the wonderful council has closed it due to the weather. We only moved to this village a few months ago, so we don't know people very well yet apart from our neighbours who are all very elderly. All family live 250miles and 450miles away, so that option is out too - not that they would be able to get to us in this weather anyway.
What happens if schools/childcare are off again over the winter? For another 2/4 weeks (probably not unreasonable to assume given it's due to be a cold one!). Would you expect 6 additional weeks 'holiday'?
The consensus in the other thread was 1/2 days off to arrange emergency childcare was appropriate.
The consensus in the other thread was 1/2 days off to arrange emergency childcare was appropriate.
Stevenj214 said:
What happens if schools/childcare are off again over the winter? For another 2/4 weeks (probably not unreasonable to assume given it's due to be a cold one!). Would you expect 6 additional weeks 'holiday'?
The consensus in the other thread was 1/2 days off to arrange emergency childcare was appropriate.
I am not expecting extra holiday, I am quite prepared to take unpaid leave. I understand that it is difficult from an employers situation which is why I am asking for advice, I am definately not enjoying being at home. I work very hard at my job, hardly ever take time off due to sickness, which is quite different to most of my colleagues.The consensus in the other thread was 1/2 days off to arrange emergency childcare was appropriate.
What kind of emergency childcare do you expect me to create? There are no childminders in the area as the council runs all childcare and like I said they have closed the childcare facilities. My husbands probation is up in a couple of weeks so hopefully he can help out more.
I have finally managed to get through to my boss - her central heating had packed up overnight, so she was late in due to sorting it out.
She was absolutely fine about me not being in. Apparently I am not the only one either. I have offered to do extra days when the schools are back, and she appreciated this and said she would discuss this when I return.
Due to the weather alot of the patients cannot make it in, so there is not that much work to be done.
She was absolutely fine about me not being in. Apparently I am not the only one either. I have offered to do extra days when the schools are back, and she appreciated this and said she would discuss this when I return.
Due to the weather alot of the patients cannot make it in, so there is not that much work to be done.
AMLK said:
What kind of emergency childcare do you expect me to create? There are no childminders in the area as the council runs all childcare and like I said they have closed the childcare facilities.
I don't expect you to create any. I don't employ you.http://www.childcare.co.uk/search/Childminder/Fife
AMLK said:
I have finally managed to get through to my boss - her central heating had packed up overnight, so she was late in due to sorting it out.
She was absolutely fine about me not being in. Apparently I am not the only one either. I have offered to do extra days when the schools are back, and she appreciated this and said she would discuss this when I return.
Due to the weather alot of the patients cannot make it in, so there is not that much work to be done.
A relief then.....She was absolutely fine about me not being in. Apparently I am not the only one either. I have offered to do extra days when the schools are back, and she appreciated this and said she would discuss this when I return.
Due to the weather alot of the patients cannot make it in, so there is not that much work to be done.
I think most employers would look benignly on the current weather situation and, as long as employees are clearly making an effort, then they should try to be sympathetic.
Perhaps it might be worth covering this topic with your manager when you return - i.e. when all other childcare plans fail, what are the best remedies? There must be others in the same situation.
Stevenj214 said:
AMLK said:
What kind of emergency childcare do you expect me to create? There are no childminders in the area as the council runs all childcare and like I said they have closed the childcare facilities.
I don't expect you to create any. I don't employ you.http://www.childcare.co.uk/search/Childminder/Fife
Stevenj214 said:
I am glad my employer is more understanding! My parents are hoping to come up at the end of this week if it is safe to do so. Fingers crossed it will stop effing snowing by then and schools will be back. My parents do go out of their way to help us - they both took early retirement and moved close to us (before we had to relocate again last year) when my daughter was born as she was in and out of hospital as a baby. This enabled me to take minimal time off work, though I did feel very guilty not being with my child, but I didn't want to annoy my employers.
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