how to hold a job with sick child and no support?!?!?

[samecutie222]

hi i have been at work ONE MONTH (full time) and my little man has had gastro and now supposed (unconfirmed) chicken pox (which i don't think it is but i have to wait another 2 days to find out because he only has two tiny tiny tiny spots!)

but the thing is something like chicken pox takes 10 days to heal! He is happy as larry at the moment though. but say 10 days, work ain't gonna let you have 10 days off! And i don't have people like friends or family to look after my son, and can't afford a nanny even for a few days!
In situations like that, what the hell are you meant to do?

I really take pride in working full time, and i hate being unreliable for my work (which i currently am!) does anybody have the answer? It's making me a bit upset and down, i don't have much support (i am a single mum) and i have felt so good about working to improve our situation and now i just feel like giving up (which i won't, but i rrrreally feel like it) when i am unable to work.

My ex (his dad) has had one day off when he had gastro. I asked him if he can have time off if he has chicken pox and its like oh no work wouldnt let me. I can have one day off, max. And...."one of us has to hold down a job" (yer shouldn't the one with the child fulltime who NEEDS the money have a job?) gggrrrrr

sorry this is a major whinge i just feel utterly depressed and like i can't make this work, and it doesn't help i had a falling out with my mum the other week and we are no longer talking.

whinge over, mel

[Chickadee]

I was lucky enough whenever my DD has been ill that I was able to take the time off, or take work home with me to do. My boss was very understanding though, I think his wife would have smacked him one if she'd heard otherwise.

I don't understand the legal requirements but I thought employers had to allow you a certain number of sick days each year. And you should be able to use these, as well as any annual leave days, when your child is ill. It sucks that it's happened so soon after you starting, but such is life.

I hope your boss is understanding, and your son's few spots turn out to be nothing.

[DB&O]

Hi, I have no real advice to offer but want to say that its ok to feel a little blue, you are doing all you can to support your family & to give your babe a better life, just think of that when you feel overwhelmed & give your son a big cuddle, I know that always helps me, Good luck.

[nemosmum]

Hang in there :)

Really there is nothing else I can say, I know how you feel as I am at home all this week with my DS as he has been sick in hospital. Lucky for me I have a wonderful Hubby (but he is the same about work, his job comes before mine, sorry thats for another thread lol:D ) and family who help out, also major bonus I have work based child care and my boss is awesome about me having time off.

I actually met some people while DS was in hospital and it made me sooooo grateful to be me. One little boy(not yet two yrs old) his kidneys had failed so they didnt know what was going to happen to him, his mum had another bub at home and was 8 months preggie with her third :eek:

After meeting her I felt very lucky in deed.

I know that all doesnt help, and it sux when your feeling down for people to say "there are people worse off than you etc" But hey its true :)

Keep us posted and keep your chin up!

[samecutie222]

thanks girls for your support, it is helpful
just been feeling down because i have only been there a month and i would hate to lose my job, i had been home with my son for 2 yrs so it was hard for me to get a job, so i really need it i guess. and things are finally looking up for us!
but i don't think he has chickenpox, he is really running a muck and being a handful today but not to naughty just being active, but he hasn't got any more spots still so i spose i should just look at is as, well i could be alright for work next week. Just worried he will go back to childcare and they will keep sending him home every time he blinks an eye (yer yer i know, exaggerating! haha!)

it's hard i would like to do a class or something, but what between working full time and cleaning and everything else which im sure you all do, there isn't much time left....and the time thats left really needs to be spent with my son!

thanks girls. hopefully it will all work out!

[Chickadee]

As far as I know you can't be fired for your child being sick and needing time off. Although with the reforms that went through last year I'm not so sure of anything anymore.

Wishing a spot free weekend for you :)

[the_queen]

I'd check with your union (if you're a member) or if you have an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, or Australian Workers Agreement or something similar. I remember (before I was a mummy) the EBA I was under entitled me to 10 days sick leave per year PLUS 10 days carer's leave. I don't think that's particularly common though, we had a pretty good boss. I think if you have medical certificates and maybe a letter from your child carer saying how long the child has to be excluded for, surely your boss would show some leniency. I know as a working single mother there's always that worry that you will lose your job, but seriously they can't fire you on the spot for something like this. The worst would probably be a written warning. And if they hired you, that means they think you're the best person for the job - and if you're very keen to keep your job, they should be able to let you take the time needed to care for your sick child.
I have always found that if you open up to your boss and let him/her know how important it is for your to keep your job, but how equally important it is for you to care for your child, then usually they are pretty understanding. Especially given the fact that you don't have anybody else who can help.

Good luck matey, it's a tricky situation to be in. And healing vibes to your little boy :)

[samecutie222]

wish me luck! i'm off to doctors now to see if i can get the chickenpox clearance.....he sssoooo doesn't have them, (unless i am goin crazy, hehe!)