Hello Redditors,
I want some outside opinions on a situation that has developed this week, kinda AITA-style.
Background: I work for a small, but very successful company. I am the longest-serving member of staff besides my boss, and have some supervisory responsibilities. I recently came back to work after maternity leave, and have two children in day care. My boss has been less than understanding about day care illness policy, and I have made numerous outside arrangements over the past few months when my children were unable to attend, so that I didn’t miss work (despite having 12 unused sick days, 3 weeks of vacation time, and a “flexible” working policy).
On Monday, my one year old was very unwell. I sent a text message to my boss and two colleagues to let them know I would be working from home. Texting is our established communication method, especially early in the morning. My boss read, but did not respond. I sent an update mid-morning informing them I needed to take him to be seen by a doctor, and then another update early-afternoon that I was taking him to the emergency room. My son was admitted to hospital on an emergent basis, so I sent another quick update that I would be staying with him for this admission while trying to manage testing, IV attempts, and other medical procedures for my baby, alone.
Tuesday morning, I get a text from my boss asking where I am, and saying that “no one has heard” from me. I reminded him that I had sent multiple updates the previous day/evening, and that he had been included. I also made arrangements with a colleague to reschedule a meeting I had, and knew I wouldn’t be able to make. I was then told that I should have “picked up the phone and called him to communicate” and informed that I needed to arrange a meeting with him to “hash this out” when he returns from vacation. I confirmed that my son is critically sick, and said I could have a call with him at that time, which he declined, and repeated that we would need to have a meeting.
This exchange triggered a massive stress reaction in what was already a very stressful situation, and I am now strongly inclined to resign. Was I unreasonable to not call here?