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Post by travelsoul on May 28, 2020 17:39:39 GMT
So as I am loosing sleep over returning to the office and sending my 5 year old back to school I had another worry come to mind. I’ll be sending my daughter back to school for a day care program in July. Inevitably she will get sick, like all children do, but now getting sick will come with a entire new level of anxiety. In the past I didn’t worry about colds or short lived fevers, and I’m not one to run my kid to the pediatrician at first sneeze. However, with my heightened health anxiety and the school’s stricter protocols, I’m guessing I’ll need to take my kid to the doctor a lot more (especially for health clearance to return to school) and this will cause me to use a lot more sick time. Now I am worried about my attendance at work and am wondering how my employer will handle accommodating parents who will require additional sick time. Anyway, this is just a thought that I’m wondering if anyone else has thought about or asked your company about?
*Update*
I brought my concerns up to my manager yesterday and I specifically asked if the company is reworking their sick policy. I was told “no”. The company’s pre-Covid sick policy remains unless it’s a Covid related issue. So basically if you miss more than 5 days of work in a year you are at risk of termination unless you are on FMLA, go out on medical leave, or take unpaid personal leave for up to 30 days. I work for a very large national company (where employees regularly sue us) so I suspect there will be a lot of legal challenges if the company enforces this sick policy. It will be an interesting year, or two.
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Post by beepdave on May 28, 2020 17:46:00 GMT
So as I am loosing sleep over returning to the office and sending my 5 year old back to school I had another worry come to mind. I’ll be sending my daughter back to school for a day care program in July. Inevitably she will get sick, like all children do, but now getting sick will come with a entire new level of anxiety. In the past I didn’t worry about colds or short lived fevers, and I’m not one to run my kid to the pediatrician at first sneeze. However, with my heightened health anxiety and the school’s stricter protocols, I’m guessing I’ll need to take my kid to the doctor a lot more (especially for health clearance to return to school) and this will cause me to use a lot more sick time. Now I am worried about my attendance at work and am wondering how my employer will handle accommodating parents who will require additional sick time. Anyway, this is just a thought that I’m wondering if anyone else has thought about or asked your company about? Our company has already addressed this and is working with anyone that must care for spouse/child who is ill. I would definitely check on your company's policy. |
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,301 
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on May 28, 2020 17:51:03 GMT
Yes, check with your employer. My employer added COVID time to our bank of time. Altogether it's like a month for any reason you need off due to covid (illness, family member ill, childcare issues, technical issues not allowing you to work remotely etc).
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Post by travelsoul on May 28, 2020 17:59:04 GMT
Yes, check with your employer. My employer added COVID time to our bank of time. Altogether it's like a month for any reason you need off due to covid (illness, family member ill, childcare issues, technical issues not allowing you to work remotely etc). My company has put Covid sick policies in place. I’m worried about needing miss work when she has a non-Covid illness. With her school’s stricter policies she will not be allowed to attend school for 48 hours if she presents any illness. With the amount of sniffing and sneezes kids get, I’m guessing I’ll miss a least 1-2 days a month. |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on May 28, 2020 18:02:58 GMT
The thought has crossed my mind as well. I thought there were protections put in place to allow employees time off for the COVID needs of them/their family.....but what about the "it's probably not COVID, but what-if" days off? I don't know the answer  |
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400
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Post by ashley on May 28, 2020 18:06:28 GMT
This is going to be complicated!
It seems like if any member of a family has a fever, the entire household should be quarantined for two weeks. It also seems like most employers are not going to be ok with parents staying home to do this, and most families likely can’t afford it.
We all need a (temporary) change in sick leave policies until this pandemic is eradicated or better understood, or there is accurate and readily available testing. Because otherwise there are just going to be massive outbreaks in schools and workplaces. Which will cost us all a lot more than a few weeks of paid sick/quarantine time.
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SabrinaP
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Busy Teacher Pea
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Post by SabrinaP on May 28, 2020 21:22:53 GMT
I hope companies accommodate parents for this reason. So many were working from home during this time that I’m hoping companies will see that as a possibility for those that can, so kids are able to stay home.
The reason we have so many kids sent to school when they had a fever but were given a dose of Tylenol that morning is because parents don’t always have the days off. This has to become completely unacceptable or all our kids are at risk.
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Post by travelsoul on May 28, 2020 21:53:18 GMT
This is going to be complicated! It seems like if any member of a family has a fever, the entire household should be quarantined for two weeks. It also seems like most employers are not going to be ok with parents staying home to do this, and most families likely can’t afford it. We all need a (temporary) change in sick leave policies until this pandemic is eradicated or better understood, or there is accurate and readily available testing. Because otherwise there are just going to be massive outbreaks in schools and workplaces. Which will cost us all a lot more than a few weeks of paid sick/quarantine time. Exactly my thoughts and worries. |
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Post by travelsoul on May 28, 2020 21:55:53 GMT
The thought has crossed my mind as well. I thought there were protections put in place to allow employees time off for the COVID needs of them/their family.....but what about the "it's probably not COVID, but what-if" days off? I don't know the answer Exactly. I can already see some of my co-workers and management staff roll their eyes because your kid is sick again!... you’re missing work again!... And with the strict return to school policy... I can’t even wrap my head around it. |
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Post by freecharlie on May 28, 2020 22:47:14 GMT
I'd start the conversation now and not wait until it becomes an issue. As a teacher, I have seen parents send high school aged kids to school when they are sick. I've had kids tell me they tested positive for influenza the day before and their parents send them that day. Or the number of younger kids who are like "I threw up before I came to school this morning" right after they throw up at school.
I hope that employers will be able to work with their employees and I hope the schools follow through the with restricted guidelines.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
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Location: Western Illinois
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Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on May 28, 2020 22:55:05 GMT
I'd start the conversation now and not wait until it becomes an issue. As a teacher, I have seen parents send high school aged kids to school when they are sick. I've had kids tell me they tested positive for influenza the day before and their parents send them that day. Or the number of younger kids who are like "I threw up before I came to school this morning" right after they throw up at school. I hope that employers will be able to work with their employees and I hope the schools follow through the with restricted guidelines. I agree that this should be talked about now, rather than waiting until you’re in the situation. At least you will look like you are being proactive and trying to address the possibility now. And maybe, if it hasn’t been discussed by the employer this would be a way to get the conversation started. And, yes, as a teacher I’ve had a kid arrive late, come to my room, throw up within ten minutes, and then tell me that the reason he was late is because he threw up at home. I get it that parents are in a bind, but that’s just not right either. |
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CeeScraps
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~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
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Post by CeeScraps on May 29, 2020 1:43:28 GMT
Is there someone in your neighborhood that would watch your child on those days she feels icky? Start checking around to see what you can find. Maybe a mom whose kids are in school but she is at home?
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Post by shescrafty on May 29, 2020 2:22:40 GMT
Is there someone in your neighborhood that would watch your child on those days she feels icky? Start checking around to see what you can find. Maybe a mom whose kids are in school but she is at home? In this current situation, it is likely not safe for a child who is ill to be in someone else’s home. Kids need to be at home when they are ill. I hope employers begin to see the need for flexibility and not pressuring people to come in when they are sick or their children are. |
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Post by peasapie on May 29, 2020 2:29:43 GMT
This is going to be complicated! It seems like if any member of a family has a fever, the entire household should be quarantined for two weeks. It also seems like most employers are not going to be ok with parents staying home to do this, and most families likely can’t afford it. We all need a (temporary) change in sick leave policies until this pandemic is eradicated or better understood, or there is accurate and readily available testing. Because otherwise there are just going to be massive outbreaks in schools and workplaces. Which will cost us all a lot more than a few weeks of paid sick/quarantine time. My daughter has three boys aged 6-8. They would be home continuously if they did that on a normal basis. Wow. |
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
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Post by CeeScraps on May 29, 2020 2:33:15 GMT
Is there someone in your neighborhood that would watch your child on those days she feels icky? Start checking around to see what you can find. Maybe a mom whose kids are in school but she is at home? In this current situation, it is likely not safe for a child who is ill to be in someone else’s home. Kids need to be at home when they are ill. I hope employers begin to see the need for flexibility and not pressuring people to come in when they are sick or their children are. We’re supposed to start expanding our “bubble” with trusted families. Maybe there is a ”trusted” family she could talk to. It’s going to be very hard. I too would like to see employers be more understanding. I believe anyone should have alternate plans made prior. It cannot hurt to have arrangements made. Maybe they will be used and maybe they won’t, but at least you’re not totally scrambling at the last minute. |
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Post by cade387 on May 29, 2020 2:35:16 GMT
Is there someone in your neighborhood that would watch your child on those days she feels icky? Start checking around to see what you can find. Maybe a mom whose kids are in school but she is at home? In this current situation, it is likely not safe for a child who is ill to be in someone else’s home. Kids need to be at home when they are ill. I hope employers begin to see the need for flexibility and not pressuring people to come in when they are sick or their children are. A lot of jobs need a physical person there. There is only so much flexibility there can be. Not everyone has the ability to work from home. |
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Post by shescrafty on May 29, 2020 4:00:47 GMT
In this current situation, it is likely not safe for a child who is ill to be in someone else’s home. Kids need to be at home when they are ill. I hope employers begin to see the need for flexibility and not pressuring people to come in when they are sick or their children are. We’re supposed to start expanding our “bubble” with trusted families. Maybe there is a ”trusted” family she could talk to. It’s going to be very hard. I too would like to see employers be more understanding. I believe anyone should have alternate plans made prior. It cannot hurt to have arrangements made. Maybe they will be used and maybe they won’t, but at least you’re not totally scrambling at the last minute. Trusted families are families that you feel comfortable socializing with to my knowledge, not exposing them to a potential illness. I recall a co-worker of mine getting questioned by our principal about why she had to leave school to go get her kid who was sick. She asked her, “don’t you have back up child care for this?” My co-worker let her know that when the kid is sick she is who was needed. I am very sorry for the people who find themselves with companies/ bosses who don’t get it. I have had my share as well and it stinks.  |
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Post by freecharlie on May 29, 2020 4:06:15 GMT
My MIL used to take the kids when they were sick. It was how DH and I didn't have to take too much time off. I wouldn't want to send my kids there and potentially expose them now. (Obviously this would have been years ago and MIL was younger, but still)
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,036
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Post by used2scrap on May 29, 2020 4:14:37 GMT
My MIL used to take the kids when they were sick. It was how DH and I didn't have to take too much time off. I wouldn't want to send my kids there and potentially expose them now. (Obviously this would have been years ago and MIL was younger, but still) For many, many, many working parents grandparents are the “back up childcare plan”, which isn’t going to work now. The government needs to stop arguing about twitter and masks and hydroxychloroquine and make some serious plans for the child care and further economic crisis headed our way. Hopefully employers and schools and local and state governments are preparing. |
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Post by beepdave on May 29, 2020 12:32:03 GMT
This is going to be complicated! It seems like if any member of a family has a fever, the entire household should be quarantined for two weeks. It also seems like most employers are not going to be ok with parents staying home to do this, and most families likely can’t afford it. We all need a (temporary) change in sick leave policies until this pandemic is eradicated or better understood, or there is accurate and readily available testing. Because otherwise there are just going to be massive outbreaks in schools and workplaces. Which will cost us all a lot more than a few weeks of paid sick/quarantine time. In these cases, for us in the US, the Families First COVID Response Act is activated. www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave Quarantine while waiting for test results, etc. is covered. |
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Post by Rainy_Day_Woman on May 29, 2020 12:33:48 GMT
This is going to be a huge issue. My kid's school is already pretty overly conservative about calling us regarding the kids being ill. The one time they called me because my son said he felt hot and to come get him. I asked if he had a fever, and was told no, he just said he felt hot. Like it's June and he just had gym hot? Yeah.
So I anticipate being called every time he sneezes to be honest. And what kind of back-up care is going to want potentially infected kids? My mom has always been our back up for this but obviously, that won't happen now.
My husband can work remotely, but his employer wants them in the office. He has some potentially higher risk conditions (clotting disorders) so we are pushing for him to be home for as long as possible, partially because of the risk, but mainly because otherwise, it will be impossible to handle keeping the kids home from school when they are ill. September is a cesspool of illness at the best of times, it is going to be crazy this year (if they go back, even!)
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Post by kluski on May 29, 2020 12:38:55 GMT
I have chronic sinusitis. This should be fun!
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on May 29, 2020 12:54:34 GMT
My MIL used to take the kids when they were sick. It was how DH and I didn't have to take too much time off. I wouldn't want to send my kids there and potentially expose them now. (Obviously this would have been years ago and MIL was younger, but still) The government needs to stop arguing about twitter and masks and hydroxychloroquine and make some serious plans for the child care and further economic crisis headed our way. Hopefully employers and schools and local and state governments are preparing. ITA. In fact, I've been saying it for months....when school/daycare is closed grandparents babysit; the very group that we're supposed to be trying to protect. It's going to have be a joint effort of schools/daycares being open to care/educate the well kids and employers relaxing their work-at-home/sick policies to allow parents to stay home with the sick kids. There will probably also need to be some sort of remote-learning available so that kids can continue to learn (or at least not lose what they had learned) while they're home with the sniffles or something else borderline (not sick enough for bed, but not well enough for school). They also need to completely end the "perfect attendance" awards; this year it'd absolutely idiotic to have that in place. |
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,380
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Post by katybee on May 29, 2020 13:59:51 GMT
Parents lie all the time. They tell their kids to lie. Their kid wakes up with a fever, they load them up on children’s Motrin, tell them not to tell anyone and send them off to school. PSA: Kids almost always rat their parents out. PSA 2: When the Motrin wears off, the fever comes back.
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breetheflea
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Posts: 5,981
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 30, 2020 14:59:16 GMT
Our local middle school just cut one of the orchestra classes because of budget cuts. So my 8th grader will have 54 kids in her class next year (instead of 30). I am interested in how they plan on social distancing 54 kids in one room... it's not like the room can expand and contract because of the amount of students in there. This teacher works a 1/2 day at one middle school and 1/2 day at another so unless she gets paid by the hour I'm not sure how that saves any money.
I am not looking forward to next school year... Every sniffle (we all have allergies) is going to give me anxiety about whether to send my kids to school or not.
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Post by epeanymous on May 30, 2020 17:02:12 GMT
Our pediatrician’s office has been doing remote audio and video appointments since shutdowns began; I would see if your pediatrician’s office offers those. It doesn’t fix your bigger problem, but it’s more time consuming to take a kid in than to do a virtual appointment, and I swear, half the time if I take a kid physically to the doctor, they pick up a new illness while there.
The child care/school thing is the dark cloud looming over reopening for all working parents. We’re lucky in my house that the registrar schedules us for opposite teaching days, so, in a pinch, one of us is always available, but ... not if we need to quarantine for 14 days.
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Deleted
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Jun 16, 2024 18:56:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2020 18:03:40 GMT
cade387 is right. Someone needs to be there and at my work so far no one is thinking ahead. However, i let my boss know if my family or kids are sick I will be home. I may be too distracted to work from home, for example if my DH has a fever or my kid has a weird rash. We usually have a cold at least every 2 months. I hope my co workers will also not come in if they are sick. My boss says she feels mildly unwell all the time so I don't think she is planning to stay home and also that no one will ever know for sure where they caught something....okay that is not very helpful! Just. Venting.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 30, 2020 18:28:01 GMT
Our local middle school just cut one of the orchestra classes because of budget cuts. So my 8th grader will have 54 kids in her class next year (instead of 30). I am interested in how they plan on social distancing 54 kids in one room... it's not like the room can expand and contract because of the amount of students in there. This teacher works a 1/2 day at one middle school and 1/2 day at another so unless she gets paid by the hour I'm not sure how that saves any money. I am not looking forward to next school year... Every sniffle (we all have allergies) is going to give me anxiety about whether to send my kids to school or not. My guess with that scenario is that the orchestra teacher is going to have to do a full day with smaller groups at each school. None of the measures I’ve read are going to save any money. Not splitting the weeks between distance and in person learning, not social distancing on school buses, not having hot lunch in the classrooms, not the additional cleaning and disinfecting. It’s definitely a cluster. I’m glad I worked from home to begin with. My kid has missed roughly 8-10 days a year due to illness every year for the past four years due to allergies and persistent sinus issues. She easily missed at least a week and a half this year before the schools all closed, and ironically enough hasn’t been sick a day since. On and off I consider looking for a second part time job, and then I have to reconsider because I would always be the one who would have to call in every time the kid gets sick, not to mention for all of the scheduled days off they have practically every month of the school year.  Now with Covid and distance learning, I’m doubly glad I’m home. If I would have had any of the other jobs I was considering, I would have had to quit. |
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Now with Covid and distance learning, I’m doubly glad I’m home. If I would have had any of the other jobs I was considering, I would have had to quit.