J
JLCecilia
Guest
So, how do all you working parents deal with this? My co-worker was fired yesterday for her 8th unscheduled absence in a 12-mo rolling period. Last year, our unsched. absence allowance was lowered from 8 to 6. In a 12 mo rolling period, 6 unsched absences=written warning, 7=final written warning and 8=termination. I have been on the brink usually once a year for the last 2-3 years, but eventually they start dropping off and I have a little breathing room to cover the next bout of illness to run through our household.
I was approached by my co-worker’s manager who suggested to me that I should apply for FMLA for short-term illness. When I called the FMLA office, they stated that this is only applicable for chronic diagnoses and events no less than 3 consecutive days (which would require a trip to the dr’s office for a note). That won’t work for us. My absences are due to minor flare-ups normally not lasting more than a day, but none of my 4 kids ever get sick at the same time. And that doesn’t speak for when my sitter’s ill (she just spent a week in the hospital not too long ago). Thankfully my FIL will fill in for us if he’s able (and not sick himself, as he has done recently while under the weather) or DH is now able to work from home, so he could swing some home-time.
My boss told me years ago that when her kids were little, she had a back-up sitter. Despite my wishes to be home w/ my own darn kids when they’re sick, I’ve had to call for back-up before. I was lucky to have my GF who’s an RN watch 2 of my barfing kids one day when I couldn’t miss work. We’ve always managed. My poor co-worker, though, her husband’s work keeps in on the road most of the time and her mom works. I still think, knowing full well that her kids are proned to routine flare-ups, she should have had a back-up plan in place. ESPECIALLY knowing that she was one absence away from termination.
Anybody else ever find themselves in this boat? Besides prayer and lots of support, what have been your coping strategies? How do you deal with restrictive policies when you’re honestly trying your best and can’t afford to lose your job?
I was approached by my co-worker’s manager who suggested to me that I should apply for FMLA for short-term illness. When I called the FMLA office, they stated that this is only applicable for chronic diagnoses and events no less than 3 consecutive days (which would require a trip to the dr’s office for a note). That won’t work for us. My absences are due to minor flare-ups normally not lasting more than a day, but none of my 4 kids ever get sick at the same time. And that doesn’t speak for when my sitter’s ill (she just spent a week in the hospital not too long ago). Thankfully my FIL will fill in for us if he’s able (and not sick himself, as he has done recently while under the weather) or DH is now able to work from home, so he could swing some home-time.
My boss told me years ago that when her kids were little, she had a back-up sitter. Despite my wishes to be home w/ my own darn kids when they’re sick, I’ve had to call for back-up before. I was lucky to have my GF who’s an RN watch 2 of my barfing kids one day when I couldn’t miss work. We’ve always managed. My poor co-worker, though, her husband’s work keeps in on the road most of the time and her mom works. I still think, knowing full well that her kids are proned to routine flare-ups, she should have had a back-up plan in place. ESPECIALLY knowing that she was one absence away from termination.
Anybody else ever find themselves in this boat? Besides prayer and lots of support, what have been your coping strategies? How do you deal with restrictive policies when you’re honestly trying your best and can’t afford to lose your job?