Just wondering if anyone knows what should happen in this situation:
I asked for one days hol at work as my Mum -who usually looks after my little boy- is on holiday herself. Someone already has the day off as hol and we are only supposed to have 1 nurse off on any given day. I have asked various friends and family but it seems they are also away. I asked our manager what should I do and was basically told this its my problem and to sort it out (we have such a sympathetic, supportive manager!!!) Where do I stand re working the day? (Its just 1 single day, the others are covered) Do I just have to work even though I have tried to make alternatives ie. asked someone to swop a shift. Thanks in advance.

Hi Setters4me, I'm a Nurse too, and although my children are adults now, I do of course work with many Mothers of young children. It doesn't come up very often, but when this kind of thing happens, the Nurse involved get's carers leave for the day, or days involved. I work for Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust, which is a family friendly trust.

Have a look through your H R policies, ours are on the in house intranet. Good luck.

Dawn R.

Oops, just looked at your profile, and I see you are a Vet Nurse, so this might not apply after all, sorry.

I maybe be wrong but dont mothers have flexible working rights?
However, your contract should give you more indication of the companys policies

Donna x

Its a maternity day off you are allowed by law so many days off a year and thats your right, we are a construction company and our workers have paternity days off so can you. you are allowed 26 weeks (I think)  after the baby is born taken in the first 5 years of a child's life to care for the child, sickness ect and you will not get paid but all employers have to allow you thins leave.
We have no problem with allowing this for our guys, and even help with grand child time off.  Its life and things happen so your employer shoule get a swift kick up his jacksie and told you have rights by law and you are exercising them!!

Thank you so much for your replies. To be honest I have been worried sick about this (no pun intended!) thinking I have to take a sickie, then get the sack for it!
My workplace is not helpful when it comes to things like this, maybe because they don't have kids themselves so don't understand. When you work you backside off and do extra shifts etc etc, when it comes to needing some help, you just don't get it. I think I would be better off working in the NHS!!!

Next time dont say anything to anyone before hand and throw a sickie so long as its not something you make a habit off
Am i bad or am i bad lol
Jean

> Next time dont say anything to anyone before hand and throw a sickie

thats fine until you get caught out :-)

Where do I stand re working the day?

If you really have absolutely no-one you trust to take care of your child on that day then you have no choice but to take the day off, could another vet nurse swap with you? I guess you have tried that already though.

How old is your child? Would your place of work (veterinary surgery I take it) be insured to allow your child to sit in the office with a colouring book, some games or something to occupy him/her, I know this depends on age if very young obviously the child could not be left unattended.

If you explain that there really is no-one to take care of your child on that day, then it will be up to your employer to use that day as unpaid leave, a holiday or to sack you (rather stupid after all your training to do that though) depending on the time you have been there and just how much notice you have given for this change in circumstances, your employer does not have to give you that day off if it is really inconvienient or even impossible for them to work around, in anything else it is down to you to make sure you have cover and to work the days you are down for, but as this is a child obviously none of us are going to say leave your child, you have to work! ;-)

I've never let anyone look after my child I don't know, so feel a little hypercritical in suggesting such a thing, (infact a lot) but are there any nannies/childminders you know of through friends who you could try to book for the day? Just another thought, otherwise you will just have to ride out the day and hope your boss does after all have a heart, you have no other choice, your child comes first.

Good luck!

Listen to whistler.
And look at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm
You have the LEGAL right to take unpaid leave.
HTH and good luck.
Lea :)

Thanks for the website details, very useful information. My little boy is 3. Its does make me angry with managment as I work extra hours and help out whenever needed to be told tough luck when you need some help in return!! Makes you think twice next time they need you to help out.

Listen to Whistler :-P Blimey I feel dead chuffed at that comment!! makes me feel important!

If you want to take a days holiday you are entitled to it regardless if someone else has booked it off.  Unless your manger specifed 1st come 1st served and all that.  I hate to say it but with Equal Opps and all that if you have kids or not not wont come into it.  Under your current circumstances I do think your manager is being slightly unreasonable unless it is a small team.  I hate to say it but if those are the rules and someone got there 1st I dont know if there is anything you can do.  Its a shitter I know but I would hope someone would be able to help.  Cant your mum swap or cant you swap the day?  Also other people not having kids should not be an issue, people have businesses to run and also there is Employment Law.  I really do feel for you.  Small businesses are not as flexible as large companies etc xxx  I know it sounds unprofessional but maybe in future if you are asked a favour decline....  if you are seen to be the one to help all the time people will take the mickey and not return the favour x