Child Care Dilemma

[Raekwon]

Here is my problem. We have our 3yo son in daycare and like any daycare they have policies regarding bringing in kids when they are sick.

Throughout the year my wife and I have alternated who stays home when this happens but due to other circumstances neither of us have any time left be it holiday or sick time.

We don't have family or friends close to us that have the ability to take time off to help us out when this happens so I'm wondering what options we have what others have used. Any help is appreciated as this is causing a tremendous amount of stress and strain

Thanks

[DuffMan]

can one of you somehow work from home?

[REDVAN]

I think the health of your kid would be worth an unpaid day....

[Rathji]

My suggestion was going to be use sick time, but from your post that obviously is not possible. I assume there must be an option for one of you to have an unpaid day?

My wife and I work opposite schedules, so this issue doesn't often come up. When I does, I use family. Plus my wife used to cover for a friend of hers, one day a week, who ran a dayhome so we have the ability to drop our kids off there.

My only other suggestion that would help right now, is see if you can find a dayhome that would accept dropins like this, but I am guessing that is not likely.

I realize this wont help, but I always save a few days of vacation for the end of the year to cover any random time I need off (since I do consulting on top of my full time work). That way, if something comes up, I have the piece of mind that I can take a day without it impacting anything.

[Ashartus]

If your kids are sick there aren't a whole lot of choices since reputable daycares and dayhomes wouldn't allow you to bring them in so they don't get the other kids sick. I've been able to borrow nannies for half-days a couple of times but mostly it's either I or my wife stay home, or we use family.

[KTrain]

There are drop-in daycare throughout the city. This one is on 130th by the Co-op: http://www.funflexplaycare.com

The problem is, most daycares are going to be pretty strict about bringing sick kids to them. It hurts their business if the kids that go there are consistently getting colds.

You could talk to them about your situation and depending on the severity of the cold they might let it slide.

[photon]

Most workplaces should be able to work something out shouldn't they? Either unpaid days, or get an "advance" on next year's vacation days, etc. Maybe it's just because I try to stick with smaller companies, but the whole fix # of sick days seems dumb (sorry I didn't organize how much I get sick better!!), and don't account for children at all. My company doesn't keep track of such things, if you are sick you are sick, don't come in and infect everyone else.

Ultimately my family is more important and if my boss freaks out because I'm staying home to care for a sick child they can fire me. I wonder how that would go over in court suing for wrongful dismissal...

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

can one of you somehow work from home?

I can and have but its not something they want to do. Unpaid days will have to be an option if work allows it, we are going to discuss this with HR (We work together )

Its not that we are out of sick days, we bank 1 sick day per month or short term disability as they will call it, its that they are starting to be a lot more strict about how many you use even though you technically earned them.

A day off here and there isn't going to kill us what the issue is right now is that hand, foot, mouth disease is going through his room and you can't bring them back as long as they are still showing which can be 5-7 days and who could ever take that much time off?

[photon]

If they won't let you stay home to take care of the kid, then take the kid to work I say.

Only half joking.

EDIT: Just get annoyed at employers.. my wife's current job when she started she made sure that they were ok with alternate hours (starts a bit early so she can leave a bit early and get home to watch our kid, after school care is impossible at this point). Last job they basically made her quit because of her alternate hours (they couldn't micromanage her when she was in the office before her boss), and now they're questioning her at this job, even though they said it was ok. God I hate stupid people who work at stupid companies... /rant

What about something like this:

http://www.nannyservices.ca/Nanny_Ba...er_Calgary.asp

Some seem to be ok with temporary work, even finding one looking for permanent might be willing to do a bit of temporary work.

[Sliver]

Raekwon - that sucks dude and there aren't really any great options. We were in a similar boat a few years ago when our kids were younger and sure found the empathy from employers to be lacking. Sounds like your best bet is a discussion with the HR department. Good luck.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

I can and have but its not something they want to do. Unpaid days will have to be an option if work allows it, we are going to discuss this with HR (We work together )

Its not that we are out of sick days, we bank 1 sick day per month or short term disability as they will call it, its that they are starting to be a lot more strict about how many you use even though you technically earned them.

A day off here and there isn't going to kill us what the issue is right now is that hand, foot, mouth disease is going through his room and you can't bring them back as long as they are still showing which can be 5-7 days and who could ever take that much time off?

I do not miss this garbage. Not one bit.

[DuffMan]

How about a full time French nanny?

[rd_aaron]

I honestly don't know the answer as I don't have kids yet, but do most employers allow employees to take sick days when their kid is sick and needs to stay at home?

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

A day off here and there isn't going to kill us what the issue is right now is that hand, foot, mouth disease is going through his room and you can't bring them back as long as they are still showing which can be 5-7 days and who could ever take that much time off?

I feel for your situation, we don't have any family options either .... our only options are unpaid days.
Just pray you don't pick up hand, foot and mouth from your kid, it came through our house and was not pleasant. The kids brought the virus home, they never got sick, but my wife did - bad news.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Locke

I do not miss this garbage. Not one bit.

Glad I don't have to deal with it.

We are encouraged to use our sick days for our personal illness, plus illness of my family. I was allowed to use a sick day a couple months to take my mom to her first chemo treatment and related appointments.

[WhiteTiger]

How often is your kid sick? Between two people that's a lot of sick time.Maybe look at a root cause?

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

How often is your kid sick? Between two people that's a lot of sick time.Maybe look at a root cause?

No its more of an issue this year because I had a bad knee injury that kept me off work a bunch during the injury and surgery etc. We also work in an office where everyone comes in when they are sick so I catch something every couple of months and I try not to spread it through the house but its difficult, same with him and daycare and parents bringing sick kids in and passing it around.

You are not allowed to take a sick day when your kid is sick but who doesn't do that? The problem is kid is sick 2 days this week, you catch it then you are sick next week and you doubled up on sick time. Do this 2-3 times a year.

The main issue stems from haiving our head office play more of a part in HR. We are just numbers now and when you hit the numbers you are on a list and it doesn't matter what the circimstances are.

This year is an exception not a rule. The last 2 years I missed 5 days each year, same with my wife. This year she is at 13 and i'm at 17(knee injury) its the threat of having to miss any more time this year thats causing the stress.

[Street Pharmacist]

This has come up with us before. I don't get sick time, nor does my wife (store owner/student), but we have to be at work /school some days regardless of illness. We have 3 friends who will help that we pay for the day. That's likely your only other option.

[undercoverbrother]

Raekwon,

You need to speak to the company. To be honest, if the company I worked for was not willing to accomidate I would look around and let them know why I am looking around. You are in an employee favourable industry. I am at a loss to understand why you employer is not willing to work with you on this, unless I am missing something.

[undercoverbrother]

You could also try this type of service

http://www.nanniesoncall.com/families/on-call/