Gotta love bosses

[luvwinnie]

My co-worker had to leave around noon because her daughter has a fever (school called)...our boss says to her "Can you come back?" HUH? First of all, she lives an hour away...second, what is she supposed to do with her sick daughter? Bring her back here with her? Leave her home alone?

 

[mommasita]

Totally clueless at times.

 

[Hannathy]

Sorry the fact her daughter is sick is not his problem it is hers and he has every right to ask that question. There are many jobs that you can't just leave from.

 

[mommasita]

Sorry the fact her daughter is sick is not his problem it is hers and he has every right to ask that question. There are many jobs that you can't just leave from.

But she did leave, and the facts are what they are. Perhaps if she is vomiting, she should bring her back to the office. A little bit of common sense comes in, or it should

 

[luvwinnie]

Sorry the fact her daughter is sick is not his problem it is hers and he has every right to ask that question. There are many jobs that you can't just leave from.

If you want to keep morale high and want your employees to WANT to do their work well, I think showing a bit of compassion is essential.

 

[noseybuddy]

I was lucky enough to be a sahm when my kids were young. I do feel for those who have to work and a situation like this comes about. But I do believe that it is the parents responsibility to find coverage for their child if they need to go back to work. It stinks, but I think her boss had every right to ask her that question.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I would come back if my boss asked me to, no questions asked. However, I have my mother around who can watch my dd. I live an hour and a half away from work, but I would still do it. No wonder people call me a workaholic.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

It can be hard to balance family and career, but the fact that the daughter is sick doesn't negate the woman's responsibility. Compassion is nice, but I don't find it all that compassionless to ask if she can come back. It's just a question. I hope she can arrange child care for the next few days so she can work and her daughter can recover and the woman's company and co-workers don't have to cover for her.

 

[mommasita]

I am a boss, so I can completely understand that viewpoint, HOWEVER, this child was not sick this morning, when alternate care probably (or IMHO should be) arranged.

We, as parents, should have a back up plan, this does happen.

Getting sick in the middle of the day is something that can and does happen to everyone. Surely most of us have left sick. In this case, I would not ask them to come back that same day.

My opinion here.

 

[luvwinnie]

There is nothing "urgent' going on right now and she just called to say she is at the dr's office and it's packed, so no way she can get back here before 5 even if she did have someone to watch her. She's also a single mom and has no family close by. Also, she NEVER does this...I can see if it became a pattern, but it hasn't.

 

[cccm]

I am a boss and yes sometimes things cross my lips that sound silly. Lucky for me only one of my seven has a child.

I am also an employee to someone and have a child. My boss would ask the same thing, he would hope that I can finish the day telecommuting, after getting DD settled.

The genius that thought of telecommuting.......

 

[luvwinnie]

I am a boss and yes sometimes things cross my lips that sound silly. Lucky for me only one of my seven has a child.

I am also an employee to someone and have a child. My boss would ask the same thing, he would hope that I can finish the day telecommuting, after getting DD settled.

The genius that thought of telecommuting.......

Telecommuting would be WONDERFUL if we could do it. There have been many days I've had to call in sick due to my arthritis that I wish I could telecommute. I have the capability at home, it's just not an option.

 

[chager]

I had a boss once that told me I couldn't leave when I got a call my then 9month old was on the way to the ER, not breathing!!! Lucky for me HR happened to be in the office that day and got wind of it. They informed her she had to let me leave. Mind you this same woman would go get her sick children and bring them into the office. The difference being they were 5 and 6 and mine was under a year.
A question I now ask a potential employer is "what is your opinion on leaving to pick up or care for a sick child" Sorry I am a MOM first! I can find another job, but my child can't be replaced. If I stay with my child or someone else does depends on just HOW sick he is. I am actually home with him today because he was up most the night. This is a day that normally I would have just sent him to my mom's but she is sick too and unable to care for herself! (Dad stayed home too today) So therefore his care falls back to me. Afterall the reason companies have sick/vacation days is so that they can be used for just these occasions! My boss can ask me if I am coming back, which is a valid question, and I would have to say it depends on how he is when I get there. Chances are if it is past 1pm my answer would be no since I am off at 3:45 anyway.
Hope her child is feeling better!!!

 

[LuvDuke]

My co-worker had to leave around noon because her daughter has a fever (school called)...our boss says to her "Can you come back?" HUH? First of all, she lives an hour away...second, what is she supposed to do with her sick daughter? Bring her back here with her? Leave her home alone?

Sometimes my boss can be a real horse's *** too.

Btw, I'm self-employed.

 

[luvwinnie]

I had a boss once that told me I couldn't leave when I got a call my then 9month old was on the way to the ER, not breathing!!! Lucky for me HR happened to be in the office that day and got wind of it. They informed her she had to let me leave. Mind you this same woman would go get her sick children and bring them into the office. The difference being they were 5 and 6 and mine was under a year.
A question I now ask a potential employer is "what is your opinion on leaving to pick up or care for a sick child" Sorry I am a MOM first! I can find another job, but my child can't be replaced. If I stay with my child or someone else does depends on just HOW sick he is. I am actually home with him today because he was up most the night. This is a day that normally I would have just sent him to my mom's but she is sick too and unable to care for herself! (Dad stayed home too today) So therefore his care falls back to me. Afterall the reason companies have sick/vacation days is so that they can be used for just these occasions! My boss can ask me if I am coming back, which is a valid question, and I would have to say it depends on how he is when I get there. Chances are if it is past 1pm my answer would be no since I am off at 3:45 anyway.
Hope her child is feeling better!!!

Wow. I think I would have told her she was nuts and ran out of there fast.

 

[mrsltg]

My boss has asked questions like this, too. I think it is just a case of not thinking through the words before letting them of out of his mouth. Maybe it was the same thing in the OP's case?

 

[chager]

I am a boss and yes sometimes things cross my lips that sound silly. Lucky for me only one of my seven has a child.

I am also an employee to someone and have a child. My boss would ask the same thing, he would hope that I can finish the day telecommuting, after getting DD settled.

The genius that thought of telecommuting.......

You know, I just told my DH this morning I wish I had position that would let me telecommute!! It is definately something I am looking into for my next position!

 

[Trish Bessette]

Wow, this thread realy surprises me.

Maybe the boss had the right to ask if she would be back, that is ok with me however....

Some posted that "You should have a back up plan ready" It would be the end of the world before I EVER had someone else watch MY CHILD when she was sick. That is MY responsibility as the parent. Not my mother, father, neighbor, good friend whatever.

Another boss commented that he was happy only one of his employees had children. How sad is that???

I know that not all jobs give you the flexibility. However, I would quit my job and find one that does before I jumped through hoops everytime my child got sick.

 

[luvwinnie]

You know, I just told my DH this morning I wish I had position that would let me telecommute!! It is definately something I am looking into for my next position!

I'm really hoping the person who takes over when he retires on 12/31 allows us this option.

 

[mommasita]

Wow, this thread realy surprises me.

Maybe the boss had the right to ask if she would be back, that is ok with me however....

Some posted that "You should have a back up plan ready" It would be the end of the world before I EVER had someone else watch MY CHILD when she was sick. That is MY responsibility as the parent. Not my mother, father, neighbor, good friend whatever.

Another boss commented that he was happy only one of his employees had children. How sad is that???

I know that not all jobs give you the flexibility. However, I would quit my job and find one that does before I jumped through hoops everytime my child got sick.

I posted that, and I believe in having a back up plan ready. Not when your children are very sick, but rather could just use a little rest. Everyone has their own opinion, and although I would not leave them with a stranger either, that is my opinion, not yours, as I see..

I can not quit my job, I work for myself. I do the best I can to assure my business opens daily. My DD has stayed at my mom's resting a few hours while I had an employee come in for me. I don't have the luxury of quitting, although sometimes I wish I could.

Also, my comment, as stated, was meant if the child was sick from the get go of the day, like in the morning. Perhaps had it happened that way, it would have been easier on the employer to comprehend.