(I also posted this in the PT thread)
I am the office manager of a small business, with a receptionist who is a single mother of a 2 year-old, who places her child in the care of her boyfriend's mother while she is at work. She works about 32 hrs/week. Every other week I experience attendance issues with her, mostly around around her son being sick and having to go to the doctor (ear infection, rash, etc.) Or with her care-provider being unable to take care of him. I have told her irregular hours cause us problems and that I am going to have to start taking disciplinary, but want to be sensitive to her situation. When she says, "I have to go home, he's sick again." what do I say? I can't just say, "okay, hope he feels better." There is no backup for her position. How have you guys negotiated sick kids and work?

Pope,

Welcome to the forum. My kids are much older...so if they're sick they can now stay by themselves....but a lot of these people here might be able to give some advice.

I personally (also and employer) think it's great to see the other side of this for once, and how it cause an internal struggle on those of us "employers" who dont want to have to take drastic measures, but still have a business to run.

There are NO easy answers in a case like this.

Parents....what do you think?

ok so I've had many times where i'd have to leave work for a sick kid but only when absolutly needed. But I also know that some use it as a way to get out of work. I personnaly have done it to go home (not proud of out) but at the time my job was making me misearable. I think that you really just have to figure out what's gooing on with her, have you made her bring you in doctors notes? or letters from daycare on all the time off she's taken. It really is nice to see an employeer try to do what's best for a single mom but at the same time I would hate to have it back fire and have the other employees wonder what was up, why she get's away with things that others don't?

Kids get sick but I would think that an excessive amount would meen that there is something really wrong and that she should be able to suply some kind of note from a doctor.

Good luck

I am a working single mom and I work 50+ hours a week. My toddler son is constantly sick with minor colds,etc. and so I have to figure out other ways to handle it because if I took off work everytime I would be fired! (My work is very understanding when I do need to take off, but that's because I work my butt off for them the majority of the time!)

When my son is sick, his daycare won't take him and anyway he needs to be home SO (novel idea upcoming) I hire a babysitter!!!! Most places now there are babysitting agencies where you can get good quality last-minute babysitters.

These agencies have a roster of background-checked, CPR Trained sitters that they work with all the time. They are not cheap, but it is an occasional thing so I can afford it. I HAVE to afford it. If I didn't pay, I would lose my job and have no income.

I would recommend that you give her the name of such an agency in your area. After that, if she is absent again, then let her go and you will know she was not really trying.

Thanks from all single parents for being an understanding employer!!!