On Friday my boss told me I was taking too much time to care for my kid and that I should ask my wife to take more time off and that “maybe you should find different daycare since they close so much” – what’s my next move?

More context:

I work for a college and the daycare center is the college’s and it’s listed as an employee benefit (we pay $1,000 a month for it). The daycare has closed a lot in the last year because of COVID and staffing issues (about 4 weeks in total). I have not exhausted my allotted sick leave or emergency COVID leave.

I often work a modified schedule when kid is out so I can keen up. My performance eval last year was great – like 4.7/5.

My wife doesn’t get as much leave as me (i get like 3x hers) so I’m the one that’s got to stay with my 2 year old when daycare is closed. I’m a male, so maybe my boss thinks men can take care of their kids.

My boss told me “other people in the office don’t have to take as much time with their kids as you do” when asked what I was supposed to do with a 2-year old with no care she said , “maybe you need to find different daycare” and “talk to your wife and tell her to take more time off” (she has literally used all her leave).

I can’t believe I had this conversation at a college. I work a job that can be done anywhere.

In Colorado if it matters. State employee