I had to have a meeting with my supervisor today, and her supervisor. It was about how I’m behind on my work. That’s because this month my family (myself, partner, 3 kids under 5) have had: myself: COVID/influenza A/Influenza B, followed by Pink Eye, followed by a sinus infection. During this time, Kid 1: 4 days out of daycare, 1 ear infection and 1 other doctor visit to rule out UTI; Kid 2: 4 days out of daycare, 1 ear infection; Kid 3: 4 days out of daycare, 1 ear infection, 1 penis infection. Also, my godmother died in a car accident last week.
Conclusion: I was sick AF for the first 2 weeks of August, followed by 10 days of being out of it sick, but still worker, and only took 4 hours of PTO for my own illness, while grieving the loss of my cousin; I missed 3 hours for kids 1 week, and 20 hours the next week between cousins fatality and sick kids.
I was told to ‘find a solution’ and that ‘unplanned PTO’ hurts the office, and my work. The thing is, there ISN’T another option. Daycare won’t take kids with a fever, babysitters won’t take kids with a fever, my parents are never home and also won’t take kids with a fever. Their other parent (my partner) can’t watch the kids. They are not mentally well enough (that’s another whole story). The head of my department told me to that if I wanted to be a stay at home parent, to let her know.
Being a parent if young children is hard enough in its own. Being penalizes for daycare illness is a whole new level. Yet, people are shocked by people not having kids. How.. why.. I just..
WOW
End of rant.