Is it right to get written up for missing days of work when you have sick kids?

Question

My kids get sick and it seams like for a 1/2 day to a day I'm off of work because I either have no sitter or kids are sick - hey **** happens right. When I offer to come in on the weekend to make up lost time - boss says "No". But I end up getting written up for that. It isnt my fault these things happen, and hey family comes first. My question is: Is this something I can bring to the labor board?

Answer 1

I think if you are going to have kids and work then you need to have plans for when you kids get sick. It's part of being a grown up! What if your child was sick and he needed to see his doc, but the doc's kid was sick so he was not there to help your kid. Don't work if you can't handle work and a family. Sorry...

Answer 2

In the US, almost all employment is "employment-at-will", which states that either you or your employer are permitted to terminate your relationship at any time for almost any reason. There are only two major exceptions. Employees operating under a employment contract (usually high level executives), or if you are represented by a labor union collective barganing agreement.

If your child becomes seriously ill, the Family and Medical Leave Act allows you a leave of absence for the care of a child for up to 12 weeks, but you have to give your employer 30 days notice, and your employer will burn any sick leave, personal leave, and vacation you have.

Being written up is to protect the employer. The point is they are trying to document that they have informed you about the company's attendance policy. That way, if you do ever file an action against them, you won't be able to claim ignorance of the company attendance policy.

The labor board won't interfere with a company's employment policy unless it specifically violates a state or federal law, such as the FMLA mentioned earlier.

Answer 3

I was in a situation like this with my daughter when she was much younger. My options were to use my vacation time, bring in dr's excuses saying it was medically necessary for me to be out and that she was contagious and could not be left in daycare, etc. Unfortunately, most businesses don't care about things like this but instead want to make money for the business. Look into the Medical Family Leave Act and see if your situation fits into the category which would allow you up to a year without losing your job... but you might not be allowed to come back in the same position (or was my case) You might benefit from talking to the Human Resources dept. at your job and see if you can work out a compromise.

Answer 4

Check the fmla act I went through the same thing and ended up losing my job! These big companies don"t care about anything but money, I have an autistic child and no one left in my family,they are all dead so sometimes it"s not about being a grown up it"s about no family help out there! I have no support group I don"t know about you so good luck hon. Call your human resources and complain that worked for me a couple of times! They can get rid of the write up!

Answer 5

Look into the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - perhaps your employer is violating a federal law. Don't know the particulars but it is worth looking into!

Answer 6

if your kids have a "serious medical condition" you are protected under the family medical leave act. i don't know if the courts have had to draw the line between "my child has leukemia" and "my child says she has a tummy ache," but you might have a case if it gets nasty.

Answer 7

I dont think its right to write you up at all. They need to understand family comes first

Answer 8

no employers should be considerate of moms.

Answer 9

right