Staying off looking after sick children

[nuskababe]

All the staff at my work who have children have just had a meeting with the director.She has decided that if are children are ill we now have to use our holiday days.I only get 16 a year and 3 of those i have to take at christmas.Can she make me take my holiday? She doesn't pay us if we are off anyway.

[shivvy]

How has it worked up to now?  What other type of leave did you use before now if your kids were sick?  Did she previously pay for any time off if you said you needed it cause your child was sick? 

Have you tried to get advice from Citizens Advice or the Labour Relations Agency?

[AllYourBase]

She can do this and it is fair to do so.

If your children were born after november 2001, there is an entitlement to "parental leave" for family emergencies (when a kid is sick is a good example) which is unpaid, though is limited to, i think, 5 weeks in the first 16 yrs or something (the CAB will have exact details, as will the DWP) os it shouldn't be used lightly.

Be fair though, if your kids are ill that is not her problem -it's yours. You made the choice to have kids and decided to work. Why should it affect anyone but you if there is a problem with your kids?

Everyone is entitled to 20 days holiday a year, though for many people, the 8 bank hols that are included within that mean 12 normal days is their lot.

[ursula62]

The 20 days holiday a year refers to full time employees (i.e. 35 hours a week or over) and would be pro rated for part time employees. Also... it includes bank and public holidays.

[nuskababe]

She just didn't pay us if I was off with my children and she new I had children when she employed me.I work 42.5 hours a week in a childrens Nursery and she said she was going to try and organise a room at work for staffs children when ill. This is one off the reasons I took the job because she was supportive.I haven't had anything in writing yet either. I am just worried that if I have booked holiday to go away and if my hol is taken up with sick days where does that leave me with the booked holiday?

[icklepickle]

you are entitled to more than 16 days holiday a year. Go and see your citizens advice or go and see an employment solicitor ( first consultations are normally free ) I used to work for a nursery group here in London and the lady in charge tried something similar with us - it's not on.

[icklepickle]

Meant to add that as someone said already if yopur children were born after nov 2001 you are entitled to 13 weeks off ( unpaid ) for holidays / emergencies / sick children etc but you are supposed to give notice if possible.  Also you can't take all of that at once I believe the max at one time is 2 weeks, but if you go to www.tiger.gov.uk or www.maternityalliance.org.uk  or www.acas.org.uk thay should be able to help.

Good Luck.