Paternity Leave Rant

[GP_Matt]

Maybe if it isn't practical to bring in a temp then you should suggest that you collect your coworkers paycheck while they are on paternity leave.
In our office it is generally expected that everyone carries the load when someone needs some time off or reduced time. But that goes both ways and reasons aren't usually considered. ie. I may step up to cover for someone who has a sick kid but I expect them to step up to cover me on an extended vacation. To treat people equally and avoid resentment it really has to go both ways. Alternatively, not having kids and working harder may put you in a better position for a promotion in the future.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

That post was written at 6:24 in Ontario. If he needs to be at work past 6 and that wasn't previously part of his job, he might have a point.

Well not if he's staying past 6:00 to rant on CP. Anyway, hard for me to speak to that as I don't know his time or schedule. I've just always found it ironic to see people complain how busy they are on facebook or CP.

[GP_Matt]

I don't know why busy people aren't allowed to procrastinate. Why the double standard?

[J pold]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I don't know why busy people aren't allowed to procrastinate. Why the double standard?

I'm not saying they aren't allowed. But the more you procrastinate, the less time you have to accomplish task or meet deadlines, hence making you busier. Pretty clear correlation no?

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by J pold

I'm not saying they aren't allowed. But the more you procrastinate, the less time you have to accomplish task or meet deadlines, hence making you busier. Pretty clear correlation no?

Maybe he took a break and wrote it?

You're allowed to do those things when you're at work, no?

[Street Pharmacist]

I think the "boss" handled this poorly. As was mentioned, parents don't have kids every month. If they could not temporarily replace Joe, I would have either compensated financially (they do not have to pay Joe right now, so they have the money to) or given an extra holiday to you I'm lieu of the extra workload. Even if I planned to allow Joe to "work to rule" in order to allow him to be home with his child I would not have blatantly told you so, rather I would change his responsibilities slightly to accommodate if possible after he returned. As for his vacation shortly after his holiday, I'm sure consensus could have been reached by consulting with you first and returned the favor fairly

[Bertuzzied]

haha. ummm i just got back to work this last week after taking 8 months off. If you can afford it I totallly recommend it. I have a way better bond with my daughter then with my son who i only spent 2 months full time with.

Course that EI money sure is hurting after a few months.

[FlamesAddiction]

Thanks for all the advice.

I'm not really sure that hiring someone temporarily is really an option in this business. Part of the problem was definitely planning, and some of it was just coincidental. We had a standing offer with one client that my co-worker was the primary contact for, but for a year nothing came of it. The week after he left, it came pouring in. Complicating matters more so is that one of my other co-workers, and the only one at our office that is at the same experience level as myself and the other guy, is also pregnant and has been missing work for doctor's appointments and whatever else. And of course, there was a level of mailing it in before leaving.

As far as cancelling my holidays goes, I did that on my own. I wasn't forced into it, but after the extra work came through, I figured it would make sense to postpone them. My boss said that I didn't have to, but that it would certainly be helpful. I didn't think that it would be used for the pat leave guy to book his in the same spot. It kind of missed the point, but I learned a lesson and I take responsibilty for that.

I think I'll bring it up in my next review though. Whoever said that it is up to me to speak up, I can agree with that and it's probably what I would say to someone. I just had to vent somewhere.

[freedogger]

This has nothing to do with the dude going on mat leave. You would be in the same position if he got hit by a bus or hired by a competitor. The fact that management should have seen this coming gives them even less excuses.

Ask management to find you help, pay you more or let you bank your extra time.

Why don't you grow a pair and stand up to them? They obviously need your services.

[V]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

What you should say is that you're taking a week off to tend to a sick puppy at home. I swear, people at work eat that crap up. If you have kids or a pet, you're afforded special treatment.

What I don't understand is, how come its ok for a person to take a sick day to tend to their kids, yet I can't take one to take my parents (who barely speak English) for a doctor's appointment? Is it not the same thing?

At my company it is. I didn't think that was special to our company, I thought it was Alberta legislation. My company is pretty awesome for benefits like time off, though, so I shouldn't be surprised that they're better than average.

[Northendzone]

Seems ridonkuless to expect the single guy to work more than the new parent.......

[Sliver]

Parents do require different treatment than non parents. I'm not really addressing the OP per se, but rather the people complaining about their coworkers being granted leeway that they are not.

Like it or not, it does take a village to raise a child and we are all part of that village. You picking up a coworker's slack is part of your responsibility in raising the next generation so the coworker is free to do the more important job of raising their kids.

A kid's doctor's appointment, first day of kindergarten, an illness...it's all way more important than any job. People with young kids also have to leave on time. They have to relieve their child minders, cook their kids a nutritious supper and get them into bed all by the time people without kids have kicked back on the couch to watch a couple Seinfeld reruns. Plus the parents have to be having fun with their kids, teach their kids and discipline their kids. It's a Herculean job and responsibility.

And when you see your coworker leave early, don't resent them because you think you have to work harder because of their absence. No matter what you do, it's 10x easier than the 24/7 job they are going home to. The job you share with them...it's a welcome break in their day from the job of raising kids that is actually hard (I'm talking parents of kids that are 0-2.5 or so).

I used to think like you guys before I had kids when I was in my 20s. Now I know better. I get where you are coming from, but frankly you just don't have enough life experience to know how wrong you are.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

He's definitely being a little selfish going right back on vacation. Could he not find time for a little vacation during his paternity leave (itself, somewhat of a vacation)?

I am going to presume that you don't have children.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I am going to presume that you don't have children.

No doubt. I would have been willing to work for free to be able to get 6+ hours of sleep per night and talk to adults all day during that first month or so.

I agree with Slivers post for the most part, but while the OP should be expected to pick up the slack, he shouldn't be expected to do it for free.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Like it or not, it does take a village to raise a child and we are all part of that village. You picking up a coworker's slack is part of your responsibility in raising the next generation so the coworker is free to do the more important job of raising their kids.

Wow...just...wow.

No wonder today's kids are so entitled, if this is what's being taught to them.

[Katie]

Babies should fend for themselves!

Survival of the fittest!

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Parents do require different treatment than non parents. I'm not really addressing the OP per se, but rather the people complaining about their coworkers being granted leeway that they are not.

Like it or not, it does take a village to raise a child and we are all part of that village. You picking up a coworker's slack is part of your responsibility in raising the next generation so the coworker is free to do the more important job of raising their kids.

...

I used to think like you guys before I had kids when I was in my 20s. Now I know better. I get where you are coming from, but frankly you just don't have enough life experience to know how wrong you are.

1) not a responsibility I asked for or care about
2) no, your kids are not more important

It may take a village, but I don't live in it. That village is made up of people who made a choice to opt in. You don't get to expect anyone else to drop their own responsibilities to ensure your precious little ones make it to the doctor. You made that bed, you get to sleep in it.

I made a considered decision not to have children - respect that even if you can't possibly comprehend it (sadly, many people can't).

And we wonder where the "culture of entitlement" comes from... (edit: lol, just saw Whitetiger's comment)

[Sliver]

Sorry guy, you can't opt out of this village. You're born into it. Entitled is shirking your responsibility to the next generation out of selfishness. Luckily for you, by not having children of your own, you only have to do 0.000001% of the work a parent has to do, but complaining about it is laughable if you know the time and effort that goes into raising a kid in our society.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Parents do require different treatment than non parents. I'm not really addressing the OP per se, but rather the people complaining about their coworkers being granted leeway that they are not.

Like it or not, it does take a village to raise a child and we are all part of that village. You picking up a coworker's slack is part of your responsibility in raising the next generation so the coworker is free to do the more important job of raising their kids.

A kid's doctor's appointment, first day of kindergarten, an illness...it's all way more important than any job. People with young kids also have to leave on time. They have to relieve their child minders, cook their kids a nutritious supper and get them into bed all by the time people without kids have kicked back on the couch to watch a couple Seinfeld reruns. Plus the parents have to be having fun with their kids, teach their kids and discipline their kids. It's a Herculean job and responsibility.

And when you see your coworker leave early, don't resent them because you think you have to work harder because of their absence. No matter what you do, it's 10x easier than the 24/7 job they are going home to. The job you share with them...it's a welcome break in their day from the job of raising kids that is actually hard (I'm talking parents of kids that are 0-2.5 or so).

I used to think like you guys before I had kids when I was in my 20s. Now I know better. I get where you are coming from, but frankly you just don't have enough life experience to know how wrong you are.

What a load, I bet you cant wait to have a week end with the boys. I hate when people use their kids as excuse. Sure your job should let you leave to attend certain functions, but YOU should make up for it by working extra and putting in overtime, not counting on someone else to pick up for you, especially in a case like this; a parent counting on the non parents (time and time again by the sounds of it). Jealousy is something that a parent should've overcome before deciding they were matue enough to have kids. Just because my wife and I have chosen to not yet have kids, does not mean your time is more important then everyone elses. Years ago a co worker asked my supervisor, who put in a lot of time at work "what was more important to him family or his job" he said that "His job was because with out it his family would be living in the street." If you are supporting a family you would think you would be putting in the most effort and pulling long hours, that is waht a provider does.

All this is something you really need to figure out before having children, it is your responsiblity to raise them. It only takes a village if you can't be bothered to do it yourself or if you wish to persue the over indulgent lifestyle most of us live. I'm not saying you don't need help, Aunts, Uncles whatever. But really to me leaving on time to get to my soft ball game is much more important then you having to leave early evrey Tuesday to get your kid to music lessons, especially when you can'tr come in early to make up for it because something about the school bus blah blah blah.

There was something in that "bullying the bus monitor" thread where someone listed something about raising kids and #1 was school and #2 was parents/ home. I can't understand how some just graduted book learnin hipee has now been given the keys to your child so to speak. Everyone should realize by now elementary school is just a babysitter so both parents can work, just like kindergarden and day homes were previous to school. Both parents working is an excuse for misbehaved, rude, kids who don't listen.

[Katie]

I was raised by antelopes.